PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County Superior Court jury awarded former Port Angeles Finance Director Yvonne Ziomkowski $1.5 million in damages and $113,471 in back wages in finding the city guilty of sex discrimination over her March 15, 2012 termination by then-City Manager Kent Myers.
The jury, which heard testimony beginning last week, took two hours before announcing a decision at 11:15 this morning that Ziomkowski was subject to a hostile work environment and disparate treatment because of her gender, with most occurring from 2009-12.
The panel decided Ziomkowski was discriminated against for being fired for cashing out, and putting into her retirement account, more than $28,000 in general leave without Myers’ authorization.
Seattle lawyer Shannon Ragonesi, representing the city, had said that Ziomkowski knew what she was doing when she violated city policy and that her disagreements with other city managers were professional, not gender-based.
Port Angeles lawyer Karen Unger, representing Ziomkowski, argued that other city managers had violated city policy in cashing out their general leave.
She said Ziomkowski, a 23-year city employee, was singled out for being a strong-willed, competent woman in a City Hall hierarchy dominated by men and that the cash-out issue was a pretext for firing her.
“I’m feeling like Yvonne got vindicated, that’s what I’m feeling,” Unger said after the verdict.
“I’m very happy with Yvonne.”
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
