NEW ORLEANS - Former criminal investigator Kristen Morales filed a federal lawsuit on October 28 in the Eastern District of Louisiana against the City of New Orleans and its Office of Inspector General.
The lawsuit alleges conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, violation of the Louisiana Whistleblower Statute, deprivation of a vested property right, disparate treatment - gender, violation of 42 U.S.C, disparate treatment - race, state law discrimination based on race and gender and retaliation, defamation and social media cyberstalking/hacking.
According to the complaint, Morales was employed as a criminal investigator for the New Orleans Office of Inspector General from April 18, 2011, until her termination on January 7, 2021. Morales was responsible for conducting interviews of subjects of investigations, conducting field investigations, interviewing witnesses, performing covert surveillance and reporting results.
Morales alleges she was wrongfully suspended effective December 14, 2020, for 30 days without pay prior to her termination. She was subjected to a hostile work environment and intentionally harassed and targeted in a concerted effort to wrongfully discipline and terminate her, she claims.
In January of 2019, Morales made an internal complaint that she was treated differently than her male colleagues in the unit. She says she was told "not to go down that road."
Her lawsuit says she was denied a pay increase and was falsely accused of claiming to be an FBI agent.
Morales seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, cost of suit and attorney's fees. Morales is represented by Stephanie Dovalina.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:21-cv-01992-EEF-MBN