End in Sight for Prominent Olmsted County Discrimination Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The end is in sight for a prominent Olmsted County discrimination case. 

It stems from a lawsuit filed in April of 2022 against the county by one of its employees. 

Wilhelmina Jacob, who began her career as a social worker for the county in 2002, is suing her employer, claiming three county officials refused to promote her and that the positions she applied for were "given to less experienced, younger, white people.”

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Jacob, described in the court document as an African-American woman in her 50’s, earned her Master’s Degree in 2003. 

The lawsuit claims Jacob suffered, "physical and emotional distress resulting in her need to take medical leave and seek counseling," after she was demoted in September of 2021. 

The court document alleges the demotion came despite receiving excellent performance reviews throughout her 20 years of employment. 

Olmsted County Administrator Heidi Welsh, Deputy County Administrator Travis Gransee, and Human Resources Director Julian Currie were originally named as defendants in the lawsuit, but the judge presiding over the case later dismissed the claims made against the individual county officials . 

The lawsuit against Olmsted County was allowed to proceed to trial. Jacob is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with reimbursement for her legal costs.

The trail began during the final week of February. The case was given to the jury to deliberate on Friday.

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