Director of OK Tourism at center of age discrimination lawsuits

KFOR Oklahoma's News 4

12 Jun 202302:47

Summary

TLDRTwo lawsuits have been filed against Shelley Soon, the current Oklahoma Tourism Director, alleging age discrimination. The first lawsuit was settled in April for $85,000 after the plaintiff, Jo Stains, claimed she was fired due to her age. The second case involves Claudia Conner, who was fired from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, also citing age as the reason. Conner's lawsuit is ongoing, and both cases are raising concerns about public officials dealing with similar complaints, with taxpayers potentially footing the bill.

Takeaways

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👩‍⚖️ Shelley Soon, the current Oklahoma Tourism Director, is facing two lawsuits for alleged age discrimination.
📜 The first lawsuit was settled out of court in April, with the plaintiff, Jo Stains, receiving $85,000 for her claims of age discrimination.
🔍 Jo Stains was the former Communications Director for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and was fired in 2019.
📋 The second lawsuit involves Claudia Conner, who was fired from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission in November, also alleging age discrimination.
🤔 Both cases involve allegations of inappropriate behavior and ageist comments directed at older female employees by Shelley Soon.
👥 Attorney Mark Hanna represents both clients in the lawsuits against Shelley Soon.
💼 Shelley Soon has been at four different state agencies in three years, raising concerns about her conduct and management style.
🚫 Allegations include Soon asking to 'fire the old guards,' referring to employees over 50 and 60 years old.
🗣️ The attorney suggests that there may be corroborating evidence from other employees' experiences to support the claims.
🏢 The Oklahoma Tourism Department and Recreation could not comment on the specific case as it did not involve their agency.
💬 The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (HCA) disagreed with the basis of Jo Stains' claims but settled to save taxpayers' money.

Q & A

Who is Shelley Soon and what is her current position?
-Shelley Soon is the current Oklahoma Tourism Director.
What are the allegations against Shelley Soon?
-Shelley Soon is accused of age discrimination against female employees, with claims that she referred to them as 'old' and 'frumpy' and allegedly wanted to 'fire the old guards'.
How many lawsuits have been filed against Shelley Soon?
-There have been two lawsuits filed against Shelley Soon.
What was Jo Stains' position before she was fired?
-Jo Stains was the Communications Director for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
What was the settlement amount for Jo Stains' lawsuit?
-Jo Stains' lawsuit was settled for $85,000.
Who is Claudia Conner and what is her case about?
-Claudia Conner was an employee at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission who was fired in November, and her case is ongoing, with allegations of age discrimination and retaliation.
What was the alleged reason for Claudia Conner's firing?
-Claudia Conner claims she was fired due to her age, as she was over 60 years old, and in retaliation for reporting inappropriate behavior of a vendor.
Who is the attorney representing both Jo Stains and Claudia Conner?
-Attorney Mark Hanna represents both Jo Stains and Claudia Conner.
What is the Tourism Department's response to the allegations against Shelley Soon?
-The Tourism Department could not comment on the specifics of the case as it did not involve their agency.
What did the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (HCA) say about the allegations?
-HCA stated that they respectfully disagree with the basis of Jo Stains' claims but settled to save taxpayers' money.
How can readers find the full statement from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority?
-The full statement from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority can be read at KFOR's website.