Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. How often do you contact your legislators and Congress people about these issues? The only objective Kaiser did not complete according to DCI was rebuilding the trust with the men in the office who had shunned her. They were dated back to March. Most importantly Laura has the truth on her side. WebDCI Special Agent I or II State of South Dakota South Dakota, United States 3 weeks ago Be among the first 25 applicants See who State of South Dakota has hired for this role Our dedicated staff have unparalleled commitment to our clients as well, and together with our attorneys, they work tirelessly to advance employee and consumer rights. WebSOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY prevention protection enforcement March 9, 2022 The Honorable Spencer Gosch Speaker of the House 500 E. Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 RE: HR 7001 Speaker Gosch: I understand that the House Select Committee on Investigation is close to concluding its work in examining the Nor is it about what is happening at the University of Minnesota. <> Apply to Correctional Officer, Inventory Associate, Special Agent and more! Women and children cant do it. You cite a few anecdotes, and Im sure instances happen. Kaiser said she's not sure what Jackley's role in her settlement was, but believes blame for the delay partially falls on him. Then, her lawyer continued to attempt to contact the DCI attorney without response. The total warrants served in 2011 were 401. It appears the DCI & AG offices are incapable of investigating themselves, much less being trusted to know what right looks like, then do it. http://www.ag.state.mn.us/ Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. e}YQYg we2)P93,g;'t}(~ Kaiser said as a result of her reporting the harassment that led to her forced resignation, she was unable to find another job in law enforcement. In the 80 year history of DCI, Kaiser said she was just one of two women who were promoted to Special Agent III, the highest level in a non-supervisory role. More Highway Patrol Trooper South Dakota State Government More Highway Patrol Trooper South Dakota State Government Zylstra resigned from DCI effective May 18, 2012. Jenny, how about Rochester? It looks to me like she will be the one that is really on trial. endobj Incremental steps have been taken to give the victim a little better chance. This is one of those rare situations where the accused should be guilty until they prove themselves innocent. They greeted each other with an extended ritual of feigned nut-grabbing and knee-lifts-to-groins that would have appeared immature among 10-year-olds, and was performed in front of the county treasurer and auditor windows. I looked around to see if anyone was noticing. <>>> She was living away from her husband and baby. Based upon these dates, this settlement was not delayed. Kaiser was transferred to Pierre, demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II and moved to a less desirable position. Black, however, told other members of DCI and the Brown County Sherriffs Office about Ericksons harassment. Weighing onZylstra Kaisers mind, though, was a 2005 experience in which shehad reported another co-worker for sexual harassmentand gotten the wrong response from the boss: Her then-supervisor, Assistant Director Brian Zeeb, said her complaint could be seen as a sign of weakness and made a comment along the lines of, In the future, if you want a promotion or transfer to a new duty station, some may see this incident as your inability to get along with others. Rather than undertaking an investigation, Zeeb forced her to confronther harasser. On November 4, 2011, (the same day that Black interrogated the Mette children as BrownCounty and the DCIrevved up their attack on Shirley Schwab and Brandon Taliaferro in the Mette child rape case)Even put ZylstraKaiser on a 30-day Work Improvement Plan,the nine tasks of which included submitting to a psychological evaluation, which DCI had linked to her maternity leave even though Plaintiff had returned from leave nearly a year earlier and had received two positive performance reviews and a promotion since then. The WIP also ordered Zylstra Kaiser to rebuild positive relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and managers. Zylstra obeyed, butgotthe cold shoulder from co-workers, including Black, who allegedly told her on November 8, We are done. Over the past couple of years, Laura and I have compared our particular time lines along with documented facts and discovery. POSTED ON 6/23/2022 AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/22/2022. There are some parts of SD where women are treated with respect and dignity. MC-you got your story ass backwards. Web7 Enforcement Agent jobs available in South Dakota on Indeed.com. This lawsuit, wherever it leads, provides another window on the corruption that oozes from every crevice in state government, Benda, EB-5, the GEAR UP matter, and much other business the current regime in Pierre is involved in. We believe the interrogations were live streamed to Pierre with someone feeding Black intimidating, confusing and attacking questions to ask the Mette children. 4 0 obj Kaiser asked Black not to tell anyone about what she was relaying. Kaiser appealed the discipline to DCI and eventually to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, but each of her appeals was denied. We would have been better off reporting these crimes to the Girl Scouts. Kaiser said she did tell Rep. Kristi Noem her story about her experience, but didn't sign or agree to anything official to have it used against Jackley in Noem's campaign, however, "Kristi is free to use it," she said. And the U of MN has added the Affirmative Consent Sexual Activity standard. % She now runs her own private investigation company. Purpose: Conducts independent investigations or coordinates investigations with other state, I acknowledge MCs point that there is surely more to the story. Eventually, she was forced to resign in 2012. /Parent 3 0 R For a moment,Zylstra thought shed found a supportive ear: Black was supportive offered to speak to Erickson for Plaintiff. Box 127 Lake Andes, SD 57356 Telephone: 605-487-7645 Attorney for Plaintiff and Appellant ______________________ Robert B. Anderson May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson P.O. /Resources Kaiser was on the drug task force in Aberdeen back in 2011, when she said a Brown County Sheriff's Deputy was appointed to the team and began sexually harassing her on a regular basis. Comment on blogs in support of these things? On November 4, 2011, Laura was in Pierre and aware of all of the state player (regarding her case and ours) that were present in Pierre as well. The coincidence of the administrative attack on Zylstra Kaiser and the legal attack on Schwab, Taliaferro, and the Mette children suggests a connection, a multi-front push by Brown County an DCI to shut down potentially damaging lawsuits. (no offense to the Girl Scouts). Gay men in MN are very open now when it comes to gay equality and all I can say is that the world has been a better place for me for having met these decent men. There have been other situations where the woman will start conversation and steer in way to get a man to say something he normally wouldnt. I mostly agree with you Jenny. It is easy to figure out, the men all have the same story so they must be right and the lady a lunatic out to ruin their careers. MC has taken the typical male republican position here, doubt the womans credibility and worry about future of the men involved. Jackley's office issued this statement about the delay of Kaiser's settlement on Tuesday: "The State of South Dakota confirms today that the State of South Dakota has finalized the Laura Zylstra Kaiser lawsuit. We need to get Gortmaker, Black, Erickson, and Jackley speaking on the record to what happened. Thats too bad for SD and a real reason people leave. Ms Zylstra Kaiser encountered the same players involved in the events that led up to the malicious prosecution of Taliferro-Schwab, including Kim Dorsett. The language of the settlement agreement states the following: The payment will be made by delivering the checks to Kaisers attorneys so that the checks are in their hands no sooner than May 21, 2018, but in no event later than June 8, 2018. /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 792] Web[1.] There is nothing in our legal system that says the public can not scrutinize public cases and come to our own conclusions. Indeed, we are reading here only the complaint. The next day is when things began to go awry. Black complained to DCI supervisors that Kaiser created a hostile work environment. After the failed communicative efforts, Kaisers attorneys filed an affidavit detailing the communication issues, as well as motions with the court to compel the settlement amount on May 14. They hadnt noticed because it was a routine event. . % Agent Kaisers accusations are credible to me. My Mother first reported these crimes to agent Joshua Bobzein who was so horrible that I actually had to file a criminal complaint against Bobzein. <>>> All you need to know about him is that he is an habitual liar. Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; Search. WebSpecial Agent Cam Corey began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff. Dont ever approach me again.. A memorial sign honoring their sacrifice was placed north of Spearfish on U.S. Highway 85. It caught my ear because it was so unusual to me. Black attempted to shift the blame to Plaintiff and began ignoring her. She mentioned she regretted telling Black[Complaint, 2015.09.23]. I once saw a group of about a dozen DCI agents called from all over the state to testify at a trial as they arrived and gathered in a courthouse lobby. MC, how often do you talk with your male friends about the need to strengthen sex crimes laws, make sure all the rape kits get tested, put more money into child protection, really go after dead beat dads, etc? In the meantime, let us all take a breath, put politics and rhetoric aside, and support this courageous young lady. Demented Criminal Infantile for their acronym. 2 0 obj Apply. "When I looked at this, I thought it was odd because in my lawsuit, Laura Zylstra Kaiser versus Bryan Gortmaker that was my lawsuit. It looks like an impossible trial to get a verdict. JOB DETAILS. Purpose: Conducts or assists with criminal Dont be too hard on PP, he probably just doesnt know how to pull up the complaint. DCI Special Agent I or II. %PDF-1.5 Since 2005, SA Corey has been with the South Dakota Office of Attorney General in the I say so here and now. MC, the deck continues to be stacked in favor of the rapist/molester/harasser. Fax: (605) 330-4860 State of South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program That lack of cooperation from her co-workers led to job consequences for Zylstra Kaiser: On December 8, 2011, Assistant Director Dan Satterlee informed Plaintiff she met the WIPs requirements with one exception: she had not rebuilt positive relationships. WebTo apply for a position as a DCI Special Agent, follow these steps: Complete the online application Complete the Personal Data Questionnaire Complete and sign the %PDF-1.7 Plaintiff apologized and stated that it was not her intent to have the office know about the issue. View Background Report Sponsored Brett D Spencer 's Record in 2020 Name Brett D Spencer Location South Dakota Phone Ad View phone number Payroll Year 2020 Think about it: NorthWestern Energy is reaching an agreement with PUC commissioners whose campaign coffers they fill while Mike Rounds pushes for legislation that pads utilities like NorthWestern Energy and Xcel who are paying off his campaign debt after he promised to be the 9 million dollar man. x3>J, .$Sku4ftRQJ~}9NdHq.qP/zixl~omw77DH?cI,(RV/{~,HAI56i%R,LW|R//7,XEZ!o@%BCW%rQ5IY\FrR},X@%YtLs6IEE$Q$ YYZwLwK/woUJm7rwznh?h-;o yGH-S$$O"hIc That afternoon, Black surreptitiously met with Erickson, Bahr, and Lunzman in a park. April 15 came and went and after multiple unreturned emails regarding the settlement agreement in April, Kaiser's lawyer was eventually told Jackley had been unavailable because he'd been in Washington, D.C. for the previous two weeks. Preston Johnson, Special Agent E-mail: preston.johnson@oig.hhs.gov US Department of Health and Human Services, OIG . Lets look at Zylstra Kaisers complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Aberdeen, to learn what thesuit is about. Were anticipating special agent openings in all investigative areas across the state, so learn more about what it means to be a DCI Special Agent and how you can apply by visiting http://ow.ly/WcWn50Ii1XtSee more Sioux Falls, SD . I just do not understand why everyone must make this about politics because it is not. "On February 28th I received a copy of that agreement," Kaiser said. Both grievances were denied. Child abuse cases ought to have the same standard. In December 2011, following the work improvement plan, DCI informed Kaiser that effective January 3, 2012, she would be demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II and transferred to the Medicare Fraud unit in Pierre, South Dakota, away from her husband, Dan, an Aberdeen police officer, and fourteen month old child. DCI said they didn't have it. WebWhen Chief Agent Miller retired, Merle Melstad served as chief agent of the DCI for six months in 1955; he was followed in that post by Rol Kebach, who was to serve twenty She was paid on Wednesday after several months of negotiations. There might be more to the this story than what we see here. >> Hopefully Lauras story, and the jurys verdict, will play a small part in continuing the message that sexual harassment and retaliation cannot be condoned or allowed.. Kaiser said at that time she signed the agreement. Deb G, I could never see this good olboy mentality happening in MN. If not, it really doesnt matter, their lives might as well, be over. $.' 1 0 obj An anatomy of the dysfunction under which so much of state government operates. Purpose: Supervises Division of Purpose: Conducts investigations endobj The Childrens Home Society is a front for raising cash just like the Governors Club has been. Jackley said he played no part in Kaiser's settlement, but she said, she's not sure what to believe. What a filthy, nasty man! Clearly you must understand the difference between a court of law and the court of public opinion. WebCorey Dumdei, Special Agent E-mail: corey.dumdei@oig.hhs.gov. endobj /ProcSet 6 0 R We have a woman who is making some very serious allegations against a group of men. DCI then conducted an investigation focused on Kaiser, accusing her of fabricating allegations as a trust test and placed her on a Work Improvement Plan just a few days later. yeah, this is pretty much how sexual harassment is handled in this state, right grudz? She says shereceived positive performance reviews through mid-2011, when she says her mid-year evaluation praised her for her exceptional work product, ability to work amicably with other DCI agents and members of her task force, relentless work, and above-average case activity.. WebThe South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is accepting applications for DCI Special Agent I or II at this time. 2 0 obj They sure dont need to kill her. I have personally met with supervisor Jason Even who demonstrated that he was a complete idiot who didnt know the first thing about law enforcement or criminal investigations. Salary Company Job Openings. "I received a text message from an Aberdeen attorney -- who i'll just leave as anonymous at this point --it said, 'I just talked with Marty on your case, hope that is OK, may I call you to be an intermediary directly with him to have no appeals?' Learn from the gay men. As a result of this experience with DCI administration, Plaintiff feared future reports would adversely affect her career [Complaint, 2015.09.23]. If she did something wrong, like breaking the law to catch someone breaking the law, that would be enough. We have only heard one side of the story and based on that, and they are part of the current administration, you folks have already tried, convicted, and sentenced them. Lauras complaint will be heard in both South Dakota Federal and State court proceedings. Zylstra-Kaiser is doing the right thing by exposing them all. Your email address will not be published. x[ms6|nb 2I MT?xn^PX`W,W~sW=yUWYv]sl~n/.7gW\=FI,R'Q0g1?YyY0!UG%STK,g|QMiDY@1|0zycW~[+3_YxN1piT67$bZZ ? The circuit court approved the Your email address will not be published. endobj [/PDF /ImageC] $100,000?" Unbeknownst to Plaintiff, Black told Brown County Deputy Damian Bahr and DCI Agent Dave Lunzman, the only other law enforcement in the Aberdeen office, about Ericksons treatment toward Plaintiff. I told my attorneys, 'I didn't sue Marty Jackley and i'm not going to enter into a contract with Marty Jackley.'". While none have involved sexual advances (in either direction), the descriptions of DCI personnel here fit with my observations in general of DCI agents. Former Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Laura Zylstra Kaiser of Aberdeen is suing DCI chief Bryan Gortmaker and former DCI agent Mark Black for hindering her employment. Supervisor Jason Even took the mens side immediately, accused Zylstra Kaiser of fabricating the sexual harassment allegations against Erickson, and warned her that the issue could lead to her termination. The sentence is always a lifetime sentence of shame. WebThe South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources believes in building, developing, and supporting a high-performing and healthy workforce. VY9H~d&D#iu.QUCoHB(L}~JOI:xw9x0Gh=,~]\c"r-)o!Jx_%1+^Iy$UYXc,WE The paperwork was signed and finalized by the Governors Office of Risk Management on Monday, May 21, 2018. D-D$3I20eV&,$~ n. And I have met with Jessica Page, who despite appearing to sincerely want to help the crime victim, was completely incompetent. Zylstra decided to talk about the harassment with fellow Aberdeen agent Mark Black, with whom she had a close relationship. (Remember, this is the same Mark Black who eventually was fired from the DCI following revelations of violent behavior toward his own wife.) Phone: (605) 330-4862 . Zylstra Kaiser says she went to work for the DCI Drug Task Force straight out law school in August 2003. It will be difficult to defend Black and anyone who tries to use his words and actions as credible evidence. @Roger Cornelius Curious when you did your nation wide survey that supports your asinine assertion? Laura and I believe Black was given his marching orders on that day (November 4, 2011) to get rid of her case along with the Schwab Taliaferro case, partially supported by the following: During the November 4, 2011 off camera recording of Black and Ross Erickson, you can hear the following: Black: I have so much to lose. /Width 1693 Did you know the U of MN has a very active police force of their own to try and fight back all the horrible crimes that are occurring on that campus? I hope my experience can give strength to other victims of sexual harassment. WebClass Title: DCI Special Agent III Class Code: 688804 Pay Grade: L6 _____ A. Maybe its the places I go or the people I know. LOCATION. None of the men, including Ross Erickson, were disciplined by DCI or the Brown County Sherriffs Office. :"x?W YfP(iv7xE' w2^Pt6kJIy\jhQ"1Bjx St~|AJtSZ]l!YBY?$@,!U82XV{/p*6)aPV%l[#gX[G|H5>>&AIX%q.&F%fF7vM4}"~W2(/:>)cS| a. My country ranch church in northwest SD was like that. endobj Plaintiff considered his offer but decided she would speak to Erickson herself. South Dakota has a criminal for a governor just like voters wanted. Since 1937, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has served as the lifeline of support to South Dakotas law enforcement agencies, leading criminal >> . Ms. Geelsdottir, I support all those things. Anyone believing Marty and the DCI want federal probes of their white boys club is delusional. Women were simply good, important, worthwhile people who were smart and valuable. 4 0 obj This is so wrong and. There will be no trial and South Dakota will settle for an undisclosed amount of cash. I have seen situations were women have threaten sexual harassment, to get what what they want. Its extremely rare that I hear women made fun of or harassed here. Amendment S: Crime Victims Bill of Rights, Referred Law 19: Incumbent Protection Plan, Initiated Measure 21: 36% Rate Cap on Payday Loans, Initiated Measure 22: Anti-Corruption Act, Initiated Measure 23: Fair Share Union Dues, revved up their attack on Shirley Schwab and Brandon Taliaferro, Food-Tax Repeal Fails, But Spokesman Claims Noem Did Enough to Promote Promise, LaMie Declines to Investigate Senators for Exercising Legislative Authority over Boobgate Misconduct, Strizheuses Get 28 More Days to Rescue Mansion from Their Own Weak Legal Arguments, Pischke Asking for Criminal Prosecution of Frye-Muellers Suspenders, Crabtree: Senate Not Likely to Revive Food-Tax Repeal, But Noem Still a Hall-of-Famer, SB 149: Senate Approves Special Fund for All Those Yummy Medicaid Expansion Dollars from Uncle Sam, David Johnson Leads Minor Republican Opposition to Meyers Appointment to Board of Education Standards, Tobin Does Not Follow Through on Trying to Resurrect Noems Anti-China Farm Sale Audit Bill, Odenbachs Center for American Exceptionalism Fails to Get Two-Thirds Approval, Noem Fails to Get Food Tax Repeal Through Committee. Job ID: 18640 Location: Statewide Step 1: Complete 4:2012cv04002 - Document 45 (D.S.D. For @c`m6x\^=5^'Gb68qk!b@8hg"Xv3nK2 -gW Am 8%d>!EDB8jOpG/4Ps0 Q}Y5z0VF3,=i0U`d ~o^Lq92,r+f^$-Gxpv1yGTY/0 6Lqa{b.K!hD%D*pc?X;^3 F`c!. POSTED. /Subtype /Image WebSouth Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo named an interim director of the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation on Tuesday. Sexual Harassment - Hostile Work Environment, Failure to Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), Force Placed Insurance - Flood & Homeowners, Predatory Lending/Unfair Mortgage Servicing, Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination, Loans, Financing, and Borrowers' Rights Overview, Civil Rights and Impact Litigation Overview, Plaintiffs Public Housing Claims Move Forward in Minneapolis, Inside Sales Representative Brings Overtime Case Against Brightwheel, Nichols Kaster, PLLP Awarded First Tier Ranking on The 2023 Best Law Firms List. Little wonder that the misanthropes on the public dole who infest the halls at DCI are thuggish, criminally insane, entitled white guys living under their own rules instead of under the law. You do not have to be silent and you should not be in fear of speaking up. Zylstra Kaiser now charges Gortmaker withreprisal discrimination and sex discrimination under the federal Civil Rights Act and the South Dakota Human RelationsAct. Erickson acknowledged his comments were inappropriate, apologized, and said he would not make any such comments in the future [Complaint, 2015.09.23]. In the court of public opinion, the truth doesnt matter, only how it is spun. << As you look through the sections that describe the duties of the Division of Criminal Investigation, you will notice that we are very busy working in the background to keep South Dakota citizens safe. Former DCI agent Laura Zylstra Kaiser says the state of South Dakota delayed paying her $1.5 million settlement, following a lawsuit over workplace sexual harassment. I am also well aware that the large majority of males are not sexual criminals. Im not sympathetic to the cry of males being picked on.. The author Claire Wolfe once said America is at that awkward stage; its too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. My Family and I have spent years trying to report a case of $800,000 of fraud and theft to DCI in South Dakota. To say this lawsuit is about SD Representative Dan Kaiser is merely a distraction to the real story. The only thing left is for involuntary sex reassignment. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB The Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Bryan Gortmaker, first received the compromise settlement agreement and release in full of all claims on Friday, May 18, 2018. Come on, people! Special Agents et al, No. 0 replies 1 WebDowty v. D.C.I. /Name /PAGE0001 With no other option, Kaiser resigned from DCI on May 8, 2012. $20 says this thing never goes to court and is settled for an undisclosed ammount. For the record, I was never contacted or talked to by the AGs office about my criminal complaint and I also heard about the dismissal of my criminal complaint by the AG from news media. The latest Tweets from South Dakota DCI (@SouthDakotaDCI). stream "It was communicated to my attorneys that there had been a storm and part of a roof came off a building so Bryan Gortmaker is not available," Kaiser said. Black then met with Erickson, DCI agent Dave Lunzman and Brown County Sherriffs Deputy Damien Bahr at a local park. It happens everyday all over this country, yet when republicans face heat they yell there is another side to this story (without telling it) or that the perp must be proven guilty. 5 0 obj Plaintiff was reassigned to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Pierre, South Dakota, over 150 miles from Aberdeen, effective January 3, 2012. Kaiser went before reporters this afternoon to set the record straight, she said, because Attorney General Marty Jackley is accusing her and her lawyers, as well as Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) of conspiring against him in his bid for governor.

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