Public records show that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spent $140,463 on attorney’s fees in the four months following a complaint submitted to the TPCHD Board of Health that alleged its public health director created a hostile work environment.
As previously reported by The News Tribune, three unions representing employees with the health department filed a complaint with the Board of Health in March, alleging director Chantell Harmon Reed created “an extremely hostile work environment” that caused the department to lose “good people at a time when a competent public health presence is needed.” The unions called for an investigation into Reed’s behavior.
Records The News Tribune received Friday indicate TPCHD paid attorneys at McGavick Graves, P.S. a total of $140,463 from March 31 through July 31 for hours worked, miscellaneous business and public records requests regarding the issue (the details of which were largely redacted)…