Former law librarian sues state Supreme Court, Cabell Courthouse

HUNTINGTON -- A former Cabell County Circuit Court law librarian filed a federal racial discrimination lawsuit against the state Supreme Court and the Cabell County Courthouse.

During her employment for the 6th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, Brandee McCoy was subjected to different rules, policies and practices than non-minority employees, according to a complaint filed March 22 in the U.S. District Court in Huntington.

McCoy claims she was harassed because of her race and in retaliation for speaking out against hiring, compensation and promotion practices that favored families of the court or those with political ties to the court; racial profiling; and practices that would have an adverse impact on minorities.

As a result of the defendants' discriminatory acts, McCoy has suffered mental pain, anguish and embarrassment; a loss of pay; denied benefits for an unreasonable amount of time; and suffered humiliation, according to the complaint.

McCoy claims the defendants refused her the same rights as other employees of a different race. She claims such discrimination deprived her equal opportunity employment.

McCoy is seeking a court order barring the defendants from violating federal civil rights law; compensatory damages for mental pain and anguish, embarrassment and humiliation; and damages for back pay and loss of benefits. She is representing herself.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

U.S. District Court case number: 3:10-CV-00368