Hagens Berman: Lawsuit Details Excessive Harassment and Employment Retaliation at Snohomish County Juvenile Detention Center

Attorneys representing former officer say Snohomish County willingly dismissed reports of ongoing toxic behavior

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A former detention officer represented by Seattle law firm Hagens Berman filed a lawsuit against Snohomish County accusing it of discrimination and retaliation for her reporting sexual harassment at Denney Juvenile Justice Center, involving “inappropriate behavior directed toward minor detainees, including conversations of a sexual nature.”

The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington State Superior Court in King County, against Snohomish County, who owned and operated the Denney Juvenile Justice Center. The lawsuit’s named plaintiff details having witnessed and reported highly inappropriate workplace behavior and intimidation, abiding by her duties as a mandatory reporter, only to be retaliated against for reporting misconduct. In total, more than 20 incident reports were filed by the lawsuit’s plaintiff detailing harassment she faced.

“Less than a year after she was hired, our client was terminated by Snohomish County after reporting heinous instances of inappropriate behavior and harassment at Denney Juvenile Justice Center,” said Jacob Berman, Hagens Berman’s attorney representing the plaintiff. “We believe the county punished and attempted to silence our client for acting in accordance with her lawful duties as a mandatory reporter.”

The plaintiff also highlighted inappropriate co-ed housing at the Denney Juvenile Justice Center, which the firm is also investigating further on behalf of detained minors. If you have been affected by these conditions, please contact the firm for more information.

“a severe and pervasive hostile work environment”

After she was hired in December 2024, the lawsuit’s plaintiff worked with detention officer James Jordan in their roles supervising and caring for detained minors. During this time, she witnessed Jordan acting inappropriately toward detained minors: “Including, providing gifts to the youths from outside of the facility, inappropriate physical contact, physical closeness, and conversations of a sexual nature.” Plaintiff routinely witnessed highly improper conversations between Jordan and underage detainees about underage sex, drug use and other profane topics.

According to the lawsuit the plaintiff discussed these actions directly with Jordan, to which he responded through a series of retaliatory acts directed at her: “…Jordan verbally sexually harassed her and encouraged the detained minors to do the same,” the lawsuit states. Retaliation included withholding plaintiff’s keys and radio during her shift, waiting by her car after her shift and ambushing her at her vehicle, according to the lawsuit. This resulted in “severe and pervasive hostile work environment,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit’s plaintiff during this time experienced frequent, unsolicited, and inappropriate comments made by detained youths about her physical appearance, explicit, vulgar, and sexually suggestive statements, which were sustained by the county’s rampant lack of supervision and oversight, according to the lawsuit.

Incident reports filed by the plaintiff detail ongoing aggressive comments made to her by detained minors, including threats of explicit violence toward her and her family, and sexually suggestive and demeaning language.

Snohomish County’s Failure

Attorneys say Snohomish County’s failures and those of Denney supervisors allowed Officer Jordan’s behavior to persist.

“Despite the ongoing nature and awareness of this conduct, Denney staff and supervisors failed to take adequate steps to prevent, discourage, or correct the harassment, and in some instances responded with dismissive, minimalizing, or retaliatory conduct towards Plaintiff when she did raise concerns,” the lawsuit states.

After consistent appeals to Jordan’s supervisors failed to elicit any response, the lawsuit’s plaintiff submitted an official, formal complaint against him detailing “the toxic experience Plaintiff was enduring as a Juvenile Detention Officer at Denney.” She then received a letter informing her she was “under investigation” herself, without any further information.

The lawsuit brings claims against the county including unlawful retaliation, employment discrimination and hostile work environment. The suit seeks damages to recover lost income and losses sustained through injuries related to adverse physical and/or/debilitating symptoms and conditions, loss of quality of life, loss of earnings, diminished earnings capacity, medical and psychological treatment expenses and emotional distress, among other damages.

Find out more about the lawsuit against Snohomish County regarding workplace retaliation at Denney Juvenile Justice Center.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm’s determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.