Ex prison warden says state discriminated against her

The former associate warden at the Mike Durfee State Prison says she was forced out of her job after reporting colleagues for creating a hostile work environment.

Jennifer Stanwick-Klimek filed suit against Mike Leidholt, the secretary of the South Dakota Department of Corrections, and Robert Dooley, the former warden of the prison.

Stanwick-Klimek was placed on indefinite administrative leave on March 29, 2018. The move came two weeks after she was interviewed by human resources officials who were investigating a harassment and retaliation claim that had been made on Stanwick-Klimek’s behalf.

Stanwick-Klimek says in her complaint that she was reluctant to make a report because previous complaints about harassment had gone unheeded.

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Following her placement on leave, Dooley notified the staff.

“Within hours after this meeting, Dooley sent out an email to all staff announcing that the Plaintiff had been placed on administrative leave,” the lawsuit says. “This was not standard DOC policy for an employee placed on leave.”

Stanwick-Klimek, who lives in Yankton, was first hired at the prison in 2003. During her time she was promoted and earned praise in her annual performance evaluations, according to the lawsuit.

She is seeking punitive damages and accuses the state of sexual discrimination and violating her civil right.

Michael Winder, a spokesman for the department, said the state does not comment on pending litigation.

Clarification: Jennifer Stanwick-Klimek lives in Yankton but worked at Mike Durfee State Prison, which is in Springfield. An earlier version of the story misstated the prison's location.