IN THE CIRCUIT COURT EQRJ^AV^DSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

ATNA8H^ZILSifei;37
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SHERMAN SWINDALL, SONJI . )

COLLINS, and MARCUS KINNOM_J^ )

Plaintiffs, T~Cas(TN^^_

)

V.

)

) JURY DEMANDED
DR. SAM BRADEN, HI, in his individual )

capacity, and THE METROPOLITAN )

GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND )
DAVIDSON COUNTY )
Defendants.

)

COMPLAINT

Comes now, the Plaintiffs, by and through counsel, and for their cause of action against the
Defendants states and alleges as follows:

PARTIES
1. Plaintiff Sherman Swindall is a former employee and football coach at John F. Kennedy

IVKddle School, (hereafter "JFK Middle"), a school within the Metropolitan Nashville
Public School system. He is a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.

2. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is a teacher at IFK Middle. She is a citizen and resident ofDavidson
County, Tennessee.

3. Plaintiff Marcus Kimion is a literacy teacher development specialist at JFK Middle. He is
a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.

4. The Defendant Sam Braden, III is the Principal at John F. Kemiedy Middle School. Upon
information and belief, he is a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.
5. The Defendant Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County ("Metro") is
a local governmental subdivision of the State of Tennessee, as set forth in T.C.A. § 29-20-

 102(3), and is the proper party to be sued for matters pertaining to the Metro Nashville
Public School system ("MNPS"). Metoo is a "person" within the meaning ofT.C.A. § 2914-101 and is an "employer," as defined by T.C.A. § 4-21-102(4) and is therefore subject
to the provisions of the Tennessee Human Rights Act.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6. Plaintiffs invoke this Court's jurisdiction pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-21-311, seeking redress
and protection for deprivation of rights granted by the Tennessee Human Rights Act.
7. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to T.C.A. § 16-10-101 and § 16-11-102
because the tortious acts and omissions occurred within the State of Tennessee. Venue is
proper pursuant to T.C.A. § 20-4-104 because the acts and omissions complained of herein
arose in Davidson County, Tennessee, and the Defendant governmental entity is organized
and exists in Davidson County.

ALLEGATIONS OF FACT
A. Plaintiff Sherman SwindaII
8. In the summer of 2017, Plaintiff Sherman Swindall was working for Aaron's furniture,
delivermg rental furniture and electronic equipment to customer's houses. He met
Defendant Sam Braden, HI, while delivermg a television to Braden's house.
9. Mr. Swindall had previously played football for Mississippi State. He and Dr. Braden

discussed the matter and Braden offered him the job of head football coach for IFK Middle
during the delivery of the television. Plaintiff Swindall accepted the coaching position,
and subsequently accepted a position as a secretary and school supervisor. Plaintiff
Swindall's office was located next to Dr. Braden's.

 10. Dr. Braden had the authority to directly hire Plaintiff Swindall. Mr. Swindall was offered,
and accepted, a starting salary of $42,100 per year.
11. As soon as the school year started, Dr. Braden began making inappropriate comments and
demanding sexual favors from Mr. Swindall.

12. In August of 2017, during the first week of school, Braden called Plaintiff Swindall into
his office and stated, "You haven't thanked me yet." Mr. Swindall responded, "Yes I have,
several times." Defendant Braden then leaned back in his chair and lasciviously scanned

Plaintiff visually from Ms head to his genital area while licking and biting his lips in an
overt sexual manner. Mr. Swindall was shocked and declined Braden's sexual advances,
informing Dr. Braden that he was not gay and that he was happily married. Dr. Braden
informed Plaintiff Swindall that Braden and his wife were "swingers," and that Mr.

Swindall and his wife should have sex with them, which Swindall refused.
13. Plaintiff Swindall discussed the incident with several other employees, who informed
Swindall that Braden had made several inappropriate sexual advances against other
employees over prior years, but that nothing would ever happen when the conduct was
reported to the Defendant Ivletro.

14. Defendant Braden inquired about Plaintiff Swindall's sexual preferences from Plaintiff
Marcus Kirmon, who informed Braden that Swindall was a married man. In response,
Braden said, in words or substance, "Yeah, well, I'm going to get him anyway."
15. Immediately after declining Braden's sexual advance. Plaintiff Swindall's salary was
significantly reduced in breach of their employment agreement, which breach was in
retaliation for refusing to engage in Braden's quid pro quo request for sexual favors.

 Instead of making approximately $20.25 per hour as promised and agreed, Mr. Swmdall
was paid approximately $11.00 per hour.
16. On or about December 11, 2017, Braden again called Plaintiff into his office and stated,

"You haven't thanked me yet." While biting his lower lip and looking at Plaintiffs grain,
Braden ordered the Plaintiff to come over across his desk and to let Plaintiff "taste it,"
which was Braden's request to allow Plaintiff to receive oral sex from Braden. Plaintiff
again declined Braden's advance.
17. The Defendant Braden subsequently informed Plaintiff Swmdall, "I've been with this
district for 30 years and I can make it hard for you to get another job with MNPS." Braden

informed Plaintiff that he would fill Plaintiffs personnel file with documentation that
would make it impossible for Plaintiff to get hired within Metro again.
18. The Defendant Braden then carried out his threat. Plaintiff Swindall had requested
advanced permission to leave school early to attend a wedding. When the day of the
wedding arrived, however, Braden refused to allow him to leave and made him take the
day as an unapproved absence. Braden then used this instance to falsely inform others that

Plaintiff was habitually late for work or that he had been routinely absent from his post.
19. Dr. Braden's sexual advances toward Plaintiff Swindall did not stop. Each time Swmdall
turned down one ofBraden' s advances, Braden would retaliate against him by making false
accusations and spreading false mmors about Plaintiff. For example, Braden falsely
accused Plaintiff of stating to a female student, "if you were only my age..." suggesting a
prospective romantic interest. In retaliation for declining Braden's sexual advances,

Braden had this false accusation placed into Plamtiff Swindall's personnel file in order to

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 make it difficult for him to be hired at any other school in MNPS and in order to build a
paper trail to procure his termination.
20. Because of Defendant Braden's constant sexual advances and retaliatory conduct, he

created an objectively hostile work environment and Plaintiff Swindall began dreading
going to work.
21. Plaintiff Swindall reported Braden's harassment to the assistant principal, Howard Jones,
Dr. Kelly Latham, the Bookkeeper and Administrator of Records, Kimberly Crowder, and
School Resource Officer Williams.
22. Plaintiff Swmdall's complaint ofBraden's misconduct was forwarded to Metro HR.

23. The day after Plaintiff Swindall was interviewed by Metro HR, Dr. Braden had the Plaintiff
escorted out of JFK Middle by the School Resource Officer, in full view of all students,
teachers, and employees, m retaliation for Swindall's complaint of harassment.

24. Howard Jones, the Assistant Principal, told Plaintiff Swindall, "I'm only doing this because
they made me do it. Make sure that you tell that to IVtetro HR."
25. The investigation into Plaintiff Swindall's report of sexual harassment was a sham. No
finding was made against Dr. Braden despite consistent allegations from numerous
employees and overwhelming evidence that Braden had created an objectively hostile work
environment at JFK Middle and had retaliated against numerous employees.
26. IVIetro did not seriously address Plaintiff Swindall's complaint of sexual harassment, and
he was required to return to work in the constant presence of his harasser. Dr. Braden.
Because an objectively hostile work environment had been created, Swindall called in sick
until the semester was over.

 27. Plaintiff Swindall was notified that there would be no finding against Dr. Braden and that
he was to return to work. He notified Metro fhat he was uncomfortable working with
Braden. Given no option but to work in close proximity to Ms harasser and to face work

conditions that were intolerable, Plaintiff Swindall was constructively discharged from his
employment and forced to submit his resignation in January of 2018.
28. Following Swindall's constructive discharge, Dr. Braden approached the bookkeeper,
Kimberly Crowder, and the Front Desk Clerk, Ms. Petway, and requested that they provide
him with a false statement that Swindall was habitually late to work. The two women
refused to lie for Braden. Over the next two months, Braden repeatedly informed them
that he was going to "write somebody out of the budget" unless they provided him a written

statement regarding Plaintiff Swindall.
29. Defendant Braden was unable to write Kimberly Crowder out of the budget because he
lacked the authority to do so. Braden, however, was able to terminate Ms. Petway by
writing her out of the budget, in retaliation for her refasal to submit a false statement

regarding Plaintiff Swindall.
30. Plamtiff Swindall was offered a job at Oliver Middle School, which he accepted. The
Defendant Braden learned of Swindall's prospective employment and ultimately prevented
it, in furtherance of his retaliation against Swindall.

B. PLAINTIFF SONJI COLLINS
31. Sonji Collins has been a teacher at JFK Middle for many years. After his arrival at JFK
Middle, the Defendant Braden began making sexual advances towards Plaitniff Collins.

 32. On or about May 18,2017, Dr. Braden's demands escalated in mtensity and frequency and
took on a more threatening, physical element. He stated to Plaintiff Collms, "Don't make
me grab you in front of all these people."
33. On or about May 23,2017, during a Field Day for the 8th Graders, Braden accosted Plaintiff

Collins again. While staring at her, Braden began approaching Collins very closely while
saying, "Are you ignoring me? Don't make me grab you out here and kiss you." In
response. Plaintiff Collins made it clear to Braden that his sexual advances were not
welcome.

34. In retaliation for rebuffing Braden's sexual advances, Braden began spreading false rumors

about Plaintiff Collins to other teachers. Braden stated that Plaintiff Collins was "mad
because she's in love with me," and that Collins "wants my body" and that he and Collins

had engaged in touching and kissing, all of which was false.
35. Defendant Braden closely followed Plaintiff Collins around the school in an effort to
intimidate and bully her.
36. During a teacher in-service, on or about August 4, 2017, Defendant Braden approached

Plaintiff Collins from behind while she was seated and grabbed her tightly in a "bear hug"
in front of other employees. He then refused to release her. Braden's grasp was so forceful,
he nearly pulled Ms. Collins out of her chair.
37. Dr. Braden retaliated against Plaintiff Collms constantly, impugnmg her professional
reputation with false statements. On numerous occasion, Braden told Collins, "I wish you
would just leave."
38. Because Plaintiff Collins was trying to avoid Defendant Braden, he submitted a false
reprimand against her for having a "bad attitude." Although no crime had been committed

 and none was suspected, Braden called a uniformed police officer into the meeting in order

to intimidate Collins and bully her while serving her with this baseless reprimand.
39. Defendant Braden showed Plaintiff Marcus Kinnon the reprimands that he was submitting

against other employees, including the reprimand of Plaintiff Sonji Collins.
40. Defendant Braden made it clear to Plaintiff Kiimon and other employees that they were not

to talk to Plaintiff Collins in order to alienate her at her workplace. He told Plaintiff
Kinnon, "I'm going to get her ass. She's f***mg with the wrong person." He bragged
about callmg the police on her. He stated that he wrote Collins up for "havmg a bad
attitude," which was a pretext for retaliation. In fact, the real reason for the false reprimand
was because Ms. Collins had been avoiding Braden.
41. Defendant Braden frequently bragged about his penis size being "nine or ten raches." He
told employees, including Plaintiff Collins about his "snake," and that they "couldn't
handle it." On other occasions, Braden referred to himself as "Big Daddy" and infonned
people that they "couldn't handle 'Big Daddy'" and that he was "nine to ten inches."
42. On or about March 29, 2018, Defendant Braden informed employees, including Plaintiff
Collins, that he had "put his wife's back out" from sexual intercourse.

43. Defendant Braden found out that Plaintiff Collins' boyfriend had tragically committed
suicide ahnost two decades ago. To retaliate against Collins, he began making outrageous
statements and spread false rumors that Collms had murdered her boyfriend.

44. On May 15, 2018, Plaintiff Collins filed charges against Braden with the MNPS Board of
Education. In furtherance of the Defendant Metro's scheme to protect and shield Braden
from sexual harassment complaints and generally to ignore such complaints, Plaintiff
Collins' complaint was ignored.

 C. PLAINTIFF MARCUS KINNON
45. Plaintiff Marcus Kinnon is a literacy teacher development specialist at MNPS. For three
years. Defendant Braden had attempted to recruit Mr. Kinaon over to IFK Middle j&om
another school, and in August of 2017, Mr. Kinnon transferred to JFK Middle.
46. Shortly after the transfer, Defendant Braden told employees that he had brought Kimion to
JFK Middle because he was "eye candy" and that Kinnon would do whatever Braden
wanted him to do, implying conduct of a sexual nature. He made frequent inappropriate
comments and told employees that Mr. Kimion was gay and that he "could touch all ten
toes."

47. The Defendant Braden was sexually interested in Mr. Kimion and Braden frequently made
comments of a sexual nature toward him, including frequent conversations about the size
ofBraden's penis, sexual comments about Plaintiff Swindall, and similar, inappropriate
topics.

48. After Spring Break in 2018, Plaintiff Kinnon's partner met him at school, which was
authorized according to MNPS policy. Upon learning that Kimion had a partner, Braden's
attitude toward Kinnon suddenly changed and he became instantly jealous. He informed
Kiimon and his partner that Kinnon was not allowed to have visitors. He demanded that
Kinnon's partner leave, and followed the two out of the building, while uttering rude
remarks.

49. Subsequent to discovering that Plaintiff Kinnon had a partner, Braden increased scrutiny
over Kinnon's work and began micromanaging him.
50. In furtherance of Ms retaliation toward Kinnon, he began spreading false rumors that Mr.
Kinnon's partner was a "pedophile."

 51. When Mr. Kinnon took sick leave, he presented Braden with doctor's notes in accordance

with MNPS policy. Braden became irate and demanded that Kinnon stop following the
policy, which Kinnon refased to do.
52. In April of 2018, Defendant Braden, apparently under the belief that Mr. Kmaon had
obeyed his demands and was no longer submitting doctor's notes, called the Central Office
and falsely informed them that Plaintiff Kinnon was mtention.ally not commg to work.
53. Thereafter, Plaintiff Kiimon filed a complaint against Defendant Braden. As it had done
with other complaints against Braden, the Defendant Metro conducted a sham investigation
which resulted in no finding against Braden.
54. Following Plaintiff Kinnon's complaint, Braden became irate and increased his retaliation
against Kinnon. He threatened Mr. Kimon and demanded that he provide a written
statement regarding his complaint. After providing a written statement, Braden responded
in writing and falsely stated that Kinnon was not truthful in order to tarnish Kirmon's
professional reputation. Braden then coerced three of Mr. Kimon's co-workers to provide
statements that could ultimately be taken out of context and used against Mr. Kinnon.
55. Defendant Braden increased his harassment of Plaintiff Kimion and continued to spread
even more false rumors about Mr. Kinnon and his partner to employees in order to alienate
Kinnon at work.
56. Because of the hostile work environment created by Defendant Braden, Plaintiff Kinnon
and Plaintiff Collins experienced a great deal of mental distress and attempted to transfer

out of JT7K Middle in 2018. The Defendant Braden found out that both Plaintiff Kirmon
and Plaintiff Collins were inquiring about transferring. Braden then interfered with the
transfers and prevented them from taking place.

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 57. During the sham "investigations" into Sam Braden's conduct, the Defendant Metro was
made aware of numerous disturbing allegations which it likewise chose to ignore and/or
cover up:

a. Shortly after the School Resource Officer's father passed away, on or about January
9, 2018, his co-workers took up a collection, contributing over $350. They
purchased aa edible arrangement for $153, with the rest of the collection intended
to be a cash gift or for a purchase of a gift card. Dr. Braden insisted that they give

Officer Williams a gift card, and he showed employees a gift card purchased from
Ruth Chris. Dr. Braden took the collection money, but kept the money and/or gift

card for himself. He instead provided Officer Williams with around $30 of cheaper
gift cards that had already been opened and were apparently "re-gifted."
b. It was specifically reported that Dr. Braden frequently steals school resources,
including snacks for the school and the stidents, flowers to be used in a classroom
fish tank, school holiday decorations, and other items. No investigation into this
matter was ever conducted.

c. Defendant Braden frequently threatened employees, including the Plamtiffs, by

stating that he will write them out of his budget, which will cause the termination
of their employment. He bragged to numerous employees that he had written
employees out of the budget before.
d. Defendant Braden frequently threatened employees, including the Plaintiffs, by
stating that he could keep them from getting a job at any school.
e. On another occasion. Defendant Braden told fhe teachers that he had seen a female
teacher "scratching her pu**y" in the hallway.

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 f. The Defendant Braden had engaged in similar behavior numerous times over the
years, of which the Defendant Metro was well aware. One of Defendant Braden's
victims was a former custodian from whom Braden had also made numerous sexual
advances. Dr. Braden had invited the custodian to his house, purportedly to
construct a gazebo in Braden's yard. The custodian's co-workers never saw him
again because he never returned to work after visiting Braden' s house, during which
time Braden had made numerous sexual advances toward the custodian.
g. In a particularly disturbing and disgusting encounter. Defendant Braden was made
aware of a student who had allegedly being molested by her mother's boyfriend.
To the utter dismay of employees, upon being presented with these allegations
Braden stated, "Who did he rape? Did he rape me?"

METRO'S INTERFERENCE WITH REPORTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
58. In order to protect and shield Defendant Braden, individuals within. Metro HR acted in
league with Braden and failed and refused to follow Metro's policies and procedures for
complaints of harassment. Following Plaintiff Swindall's complaint of harassment, an
employee with Metro HR prepared and delivered a letter to Braden placing him on
administrative leave. Sharon Pertiller, the Executive Officer of Metro HR, became irate
and ordered the letter to be retrieved and delivered to her. When Braden returned, Pertiller
grabbed the letter from his hand and escorted the Metro HR employee to an office, where
she tore the letter mto pieces while saying, "You are NOT going to put Dr. Braden on

leave!" The Metro HR employee then told Ms. Pertiller that she did not know all the facts
and that the situation was serious, again reiterating that Braden needed to be placed on

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 administrative leave. Sharon Pertiller's interference with the investigation and destruction
of the letter was a clear violation of Metro policy.
59. Sharon Pertiller provided Braden with mform.ation, mcluding complaints or grievances
about him, that was supposed to remain confidential. In an effort to intmiidate employees
and prevent complaints from being lodged against him, Braden frequently boasted about
Ms access to inside information from Pertiller, as well as from a friend at the MNPS Human
Resources department, Dr. Barry Potts.
60. Sharon Pertiller's actions were part of a policy and practice at Metro of selective
enforcement of Metro mles and protection of certain individuals, including the Defendant
Braden. Ms. Pertiller had previously interfered with a Metro HR investigation, involving a
sexual harassment complaint against Moreno "M.o" Carrasco, a friend of MNPS Director
Dr. Shawn Joseph. Mr. Carrasco had previously worked with Dr. Joseph in Maryland, and
accompanied Joseph to Nashville in 2016.
61. In the summer of 2017, Mr. Carrasco had been accused of sexual harassment and groping
the breasts of an MNPS employee. The allegations were reported to MNPS Board Member
Amy Frogge, who then forwarded the harassment allegation to Metro HR. Metro did not
conduct an investigation and ignored fhe complaint, and the harassment of the employee
continued until the employee made another complaint in November of 2017.

62. The same Metro HR employee who handled Plaintiff Swindall's complaint had been
assigned to handle the complaint against Carrasco. Sharon Pertiller did not inform the
Metro HR employee of the harassment that had occurred during the sununer of 2017.
63. Per protocol, Mr. Carrasco was placed on administrative leave. Sharon Pertiller came to
the Metro HR employee handling the investigation and told him, "If you don't get your

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 investigation right. Dr. Joseph will fire you." The HR employee understood Ms. Pertiller
to mean that if lie did not find that the allegations against Carrasco were unsubstantiated or
unfounded, that he would be terminated. His investigation, however, yielded significant
evidence that the allegations against Carrasco were true and that Carrasco should be
disciplined for sexual harassment.
64. Because the Metro HR employee had learned that Dr. Shawn Joseph, the Director of
MNPS, had been made aware of the allegations against Carrasco, he concluded he needed
to interview both Dr. Joseph and Amy Frogge about the incidents that occurred during the
summer of 2017. Ms. Pertiller refused to allow Dr. Joseph or Amy Frogge to be
interviewed, m violation ofMNPS policy.
65. Ms. Pertiller withheld the names of the witnesses and complainants, which stalled the
investigation and resulted in the need for a second interview of Mr. Carrasco. Ultimately,
Pertiller's stall tactics enabled Carrasco to resign prior to being interviewed about the
allegations. Ms. Pertiller even refused to allow the HR employee to interview the
complainaat herself.
66. Mr. Carrasco was in fact found to have violated Metro policy, and Ms. Pertiller's promised
retaliation ensued. The HR employee was given a baseless written reprimand immediately
after the Carrasco investigation. After the attempted Braden investigation, the HR
employee was forced to resign in lieu of termination.
67. As an entity, MNPS had a policy and practice of ignoring complaints of sexual harassment,
as well as interfering with investigations of harassment. MNPS has engaged in a pattern
of practice of protecting Defendant Braden by dismissing complaints against him, despite
overwhelming evidence that he has consistently violated the school's aati-harassment

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 policies for many years. The conduct of Defendant Braden, having been accepted and

tolerated by MNPS, is therefore imputed to the Defendant Metro as an official policy and
custom.

CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT ONE: UNLAWFUL RETALIATION.
68. The Tennessee Human Rights Act makes it a discriminatory practice in T.C.A. § 4-21-301
for a person or for two (2) or more persons to retaliate or discriminate in any manner against
a person because such person has opposed a practice declared discriminatory by this
chapter.

69. Plaintiffs opposed the Defendants' discrmiinatory behavior by filing complaints and
cooperating with Human Resources during official investigations.
70. The Plaintiffs' opposition of the Defendant's discriminatory behavior and their reports of
discriminatory behavior constitute activity protected by statute.
71. Defendant Metro aad Defendant Braden had knowledge of the Plaintiffs exercise of
protected activity.
72. Following their reports of discrimination and/or harassment, the Plaintiffs were retaliated
against by Defendant Braden with defamatory and derogatory comments, as well as the
other retaliatory conduct alleged herein.
73. The retaliatory conduct resulted m materially adverse changes ia the terms and conditions
of the Plaintiffs' employment.
74. The Defendant Metro knowingly permitted conditions of discrimination in employment so
intolerable that a reasonable person subject to them would resign. A reasonable employer

15

 would have foreseen Plaintiff Swindall's resignation and Plaintiff Collins' and Plaintiff
Kinnon's attempts to transfer, given the intolerable conditions of employment.
75. Because of the Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff Swindall resigned from his position, having
been constructively discharged from his employment.
76. But for engaging in activity protected by statute, the Plaintiffs would not have been

retaliated against and Plaintiff Swindall would not have been constructively discharged
from. his position.
77. The Defendant Metro is vicariously liable for the acts of Defendant Braden, a management
employee.

78. By virtue of the foregoing allegations, Plaintiffs also assert a claim for common law

retaliation and for Plaintiff Swindall, retaliatory discharge.

COUNT TWO: HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
79. As alleged herein. Defendant Braden's frequent sexual comments and inappropriate
behavior permeated the work enviromnent at JFK Middle on a daily basis.
80. Defendant Braden began a campaign of harassment and retaliation against all employees
who rebuffed Ms sexual advances and those that were not complacent with his retaliatory
scheme and inappropriate and highly sexualized behavior.
81. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is female and is therefore a member of a protected class. Plaintiffs
Sherman Swindall and Marcus Kimion are male and therefore members of a protected
class.

82. The Plaintiffs were subjected to unwelcome sexual harassment by Defendant Braden,
which harassment occurred because of the employee's gender.

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 83. The harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of employment.
84. The harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an objectively hostile or
abusive work environment which a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive.
85. The harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of the Plaintiffs' employment.
86. The Defendant Metro knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to respond
with prompt and appropriate corrective action to eliminate the harassment, and the
Defendant Metro is therefore liable for the acts of Defendant Braden.

COUNT THREE: QUID PRO QUO SEXUAL HARASSMENT
87. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is female and is therefore a member of a protected class. Plaintiffs
Sherman. Swindall and Marcus Kjnnon are male and therefore members of a protected
class.

88. The Plaintiffs were subjected to either sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.
89. The harassment was based on sex.

90. The Plaintiffs' submission to the harassment was an express or implied condition for
receiving job benefits, or refusal to submit to Defendant Braden's demands resulted in

tangible job detriment.
91. The Defendant Metro knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to
adequately respond and is therefore vicariously liable for the acts of Defendant Braden, a
management employee.

COUNT FOUR: OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT
92. The Defendant Braden's conduct alleged herein was intentional or reckless;

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 93. The Defendant Braden's conduct was so outrageous in character, and so extreme in
degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and to be regarded as atrocious
and utterly intolerable in a civilized society.
94. The Defendant Braden's conduct resulted in serious mental injury to the Plaintiffs.
95. The distress inflicted by Defendant Braden was sufficiently severe that no reasonable
person could be expected to endure it, and the Defendant Braden is therefore liable for
intentional infliction of emotional distress.

COUNT FIVE: TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

AND PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

96. The Defendant Braden was aware that the Plaintiffs were seeking a transfer to a different

school and Plaintiff Swindall was seeking employment at Oliver Middle School.
97. The Defendant Braden intentionally, by improper motive and improper means, prevented
the transfer and/or employment of the Plaintiffs by improper means, including
misrepresentation, defamation, unethical conduct, overreaching and through undue
influence.

98. The Plaintiffs prospective business relationships with different middle schools were
ended when Defendant Braden interfered with the transfer and application process, and

the Plaintiffs were unable to transfer and Plaintiff Swindall was not hired at Oliver.
99. As a direct and proximate cause of the actions of Defendant Braden, the Plaintiffs have
been damaged and continue to be damaged.

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 COUNT SDC: DEFAMATION
100. The Defendant Braden published statements, orally and in writing that were of
and concerning Plaintiff Collins, fcaowmg that his statements were false, includmg his
accusation that she was a murderer.

101. The Defendant Braden published statements orally that were of and concerning
Plaintiff Kinnon, knowing that Ms statements were false, including the accusation that
Kinnon was dating a pedophile.
102. The import of the Defendant Braden's statements was to portray Plaintiff Collins
and Plaintiff Kinnon as immoral, guilty of criminal acts, or other misconduct.
103. The Defendant Braden' s statements were false at the time they were made.
104. Because the Defendant Braden' s false statements were stated orally to third parties,
they constitute slander.

COUNT SEVEN: DEFAMATION BY IMPLICATION OR INNUENDO
105. Because the Defendant Braden omitted facts, which, if properly presented would
not have created a negative impression of the Plaintiffs, the Defendant Braden is guilty of
defamation by implication, or iimuendo.

COUNT EIGHT: FALSE LIGHT
106. The Defendant Braden' s false accusations placed Plaintiff Collins before the public
in a false light. The false accusations also place the Plaintiff in a false light within a
cognizable and reasonably foreseeable group consisting of fellow teachers and employees

at JFK Middle and within the MNPS system.

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 107. The false light m which the Plaintiff was placed would be highly offensive to a
reasonable person. The Defendant Braden had actual knowledge of or acted in reckless

disregard to the falsify of the published matter and the false light in which the Plaintiffs
would be placed.
108. By virtue of the Defendant Braden's false accusations. Plaintiff Collins has suffered
irreparable damage to her professional and personal reputations.

COUNT NINE: BREACH OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
109. The Defendant Braden had the authority to directly hire Plaintiff Swindall, and
promised Swindall a salary of $42,100 dollars per year at IFK Middle, which was a material
tenn of the agreement between the parties.

110. ~ Plaintiff Swindall accepted the salary promised by Defendant Braden and
commenced working at JFK Middle in furftierance of the agreement.

111. The Defendants breached the agreement by paying Plaintiff Swindall
approximately half of the salary he was owed.

112. The Defendants are therefore liable for breaching Plaintiff Swindall's employment
agreement.

PUNITIVE DAMAGES
113. Because the Defendant Braden's actions were intentional, malicious, or at a
minimum, reckless, he must answer in both compensatory and punitive damages m an
amount to be proven at trial and sufficient to deter others from misconduct of a similar
nature.

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 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment as follows:
a) For lost wages, back pay, and the value of all employment benefits which Plaintiff Swindall
has lost from the date of Defendant's discriminatory and retaliatory acts;
b) For damages in an amount to be determined at trial for the Defendants' breach of the

employment agreement reached with Plaintiff Swmdall regarding his salary;
c) That the Court reinstate Plaintiff Swindall to his former position or in an equivalent job
with all employment rights and benefits to which he would have been entitled but for his
constructive discharge or, in the alternative, to award Plaintiff Swindall front pay and
benefits in lieu of reinstatement;
d) For an award of compensatory and non-economic damages not to exceed $750,000 each

for Plaintiffs Swindall, Collins, and Kinnon;
e) For an award of Punitive Damages against the Defendant Braden in the amount of one

million dollars for each Plaintiff;
f) For an award of attorney's fees and costs as provided by law;
g) For such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to effectuate the purpose T.C.A. §
4-21-101 etseq.

Plaintiffs demand ajmy to try all issues so triable.

21

 Respectfully submitted,
THE BLACKBURN FIRM, PLLC

W.>&atf Blackburn (#3484)

BryantKi-oll (#33394)
213 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37219

P: (615) 254-7770
F: (866) 895-7272
gblackbum@wgaryblackbum.com

bkroll@wgaryblackbum. corn
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

22

 IN THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE o:, "^.

oo->
o\

\^

\
SHERMAN SWINDALL, SONJI ) \
COLLINS, and MARCUS KENNON, ) \/^ ^

^'oy

Plaintiffs, ) Case No. 18C 10%

) __^^__ "\ ::' ^

v. ) JUDGE KELVIN JONES \ ^
)
^
DR. SAM BRADEN, III, in his individual )
capacity, and THE METROPOLITAN ) JURY DEMANDED

?

GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND )
DAVIDSON COUNTY )
Defendants.

)

MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT

Comes now, the Plaintiffs, by and through counsel, and move this Court for an order

granting them leave to amend their Complaint pursuant to Rule 15.01 of the Tennessee Rules of
Civil Procedure.

As grounds for this Motion, your Movants would show unto the Court that the proposed
First Amended Complaint adds a new Plaintiff, Mr. Scott Lindsey, who was identified in the
original Complaint. The proposed First Amended Complaint contains more specific factual
allegations regarding Mr. Lindsey.

The Defendants were previously notified that Mr. Lindsey would be added as a Plaintiff in
this case. The parties have scheduled depositions and made time for Mr. Lindsey to be deposed in
anticipation of him being added to this lawsuit.
The amendment is not the result of undue delay, bad faith, or a dilatory motive on the part
of the Plaintiffs, and the Defendants will not be prejudiced.
Wherefore, Plaintiffs respectfully move this Court to grant them leave to file their First
Amended Complaint, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

NOTICE OF HEARING
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS EXPECTED TO
BE HEARD ON JANUARY 4, 2018 AT 9:00 AM, OR SOON THEREAFTER, BEFORE

THE HONORABLE KELVIN JONES IN THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT FOR

DAVIDSON COUNTY. IN THE EVENT YOU DO NOT FILE A RESPONSE, THE

MOTION WILL BE GRANTED WITHOUT THE NEED TO APPEAR AT THE
HEAMNG.
Respectfully submitted,
THE BLACKBURN FIRM, PLLC

W. Gary Blackburn (#3484)
BryantKroll (#33394)
213 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 300

Nashville, TO 37219
P: (615) 254-7770
F: (866) 895-7272
gblackbum@wgaryblackburn. corn
bkroll@wgaryblackburn. corn
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and exact copy of the foregoing document has been sent via
email and hand-delivery to the following:
Jeff Campbell (#22455) F. Michie Gibson, Jr.
R. Alex Dickerson (#271 84) 4979 Lebanon Pike, Suite C
The Department of Law of the Old Hickory, TN 37138
Metropolitan Government of michiegibson@lawyer.com

Nashville and Davidson County Attorney for Defendant Braden
P.O. Box 196300

Nashville, TN 37219

(615) 862-6341

j eff. campbell2@nashville. go v
alex.dickerson@nashville.gov
Assistant Metropolitan Attorneys

This |"7A day of December, 2018.

^d^

BryantKroTr1

IN THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
SHERMAN SWINDALL, SONJI )
COLLINS, MARCUS KINNON, and )
SCOTT LINDSEY ) Case No. 18C Z^ (?
Plaintiffs, )

) JUDGE KELVIN JONES

V.

.

)

\
)

\

,

o-:.

-0

^
c^

DR. SAM BRADEN, III, in his individual ) JURY DEMANDED \
capacity, and THE METROPOLITAN ) ^

GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND )
DAVIDSON COUNTY )
Defendants.

[PROPOSED] FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
Comes now, the Plaintiffs, by and through counsel, and for their fast amended cause of
action against the Defendants state and allege as follows:

PARTIES
1. Plaintiff Sherman Swindall is a former employee and football coach at John F. Kennedy
Middle School, (hereafter "JFK Middle"), a school within the Metropolitan Nashville
Public School system. He is a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.

2. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is a teacher at JFK Middle. She is a citizen and resident ofDavidson
County, Tennessee.

3. Plaintiff Marcus Kinnon is a literacy teacher development specialist at JFK Middle. He is
a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Temiessee.

4. Plaintiff Scott Lindsey is a former human resources officer employed by the Defendant.
He is a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.

A

5. The Defendant Sam Braden, III is the Principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School. Upon
information and belief, he is a citizen and resident ofDavidson County, Tennessee.

6. The Defendant Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County ("Metro") is
a local governmental subdivision of the State of Tennessee, as set forth in T.C.A. ? 29-20-

102(3), and is the proper party to be sued for matters pertaining to the Metro Nashville
Public School system ("MNPS"). Metro is a "person" within the meaning ofT.C.A. ? 29-

14-101 and is an "employer," as defined by T.C.A. ? 4-21-102(4) and is therefore subject
to the provisions of the Tennessee Human Rights Act.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE
7. Plaintiffs invoke this Court's jurisdiction pursuant to T.C.A. ? 4-21-311, seeking redress

and protection for deprivation of rights granted by the Tennessee Human Rights Act.
8. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to T.C.A. ? 16-10-101 and ? 16-11-102
because the tortious acts and omissions occurred within the State of Tennessee. Venue is
proper pursuant to T.C.A. ? 20-4-104 because the acts and omissions complained of herein
arose in Davidson County, Tennessee, and the Defendant governmental entity is organized
and exists in Davidson County.

ALLEGATIONS OF FACT
A. Plaintiff Sherman Swindall
9. In the summer of 2017, Plaintiff Shennan Swindall was working for Aaron's furniture,
delivering rental furniture and electronic equipment to customer's houses. He met
Defendant Sam Braden, III, while delivering a television to Braden's house.

10. Mr. Swmdall had previously played football for Mississippi State. He and Dr. Braden
discussed the matter and Braden offered him the job of head football coach for JFK Middle

during the delivery of the television. Plaintiff Swmdall accepted the coaching position,
and subsequently accepted a position as a secretary and school supervisor. Plaintiff
Swindall's office was located next to Dr. Braden's.

11. Dr. Braden had the authority to directly hire Plaintiff Swindall. Mr. Swindall was offered,
and accepted, a starting salary of $42,100 per year.
12. As soon as the school year started, Dr. Braden began making inappropriate comments and
demanding sexual favors from Mr. Swindall.

13. In August of 2017, during the first week of school, Braden called Plaintiff Swindall into
his office and stated, "You haven't thanked me yet." Mr. Swindall responded, "Yes I have,
several times." Defendant Braden then leaned back in his chair and lasciviously scanned

Plaintiff visually from his head to his genital area while licking and biting his lips in an
overt sexual manner. Mr. Swindall was shocked and declined Braden's sexual advances,
informing Dr. Braden that he was not gay and that he was happily married. Dr. Braden

informed Plaintiff Swindall that Braden and his wife were "swingers," and that Mr.
Swindall and his wife should have sex with them, which Swindall refused.
14. Plaintiff Swindall discussed the incident with several other employees, who informed
Swindall that Braden had made several inappropriate sexual advances against other
employees over prior years, but that nothing would ever happen when the conduct was
reported to the Defendant Metro.

15. Defendant Braden inquired about Plaintiff Swindall's sexual preferences from Plaintiff
Marcus Kinnon, who informed Braden that Swindall was a married man. In response,
Braden said, in words or substance, "Yeah, well, I'm going to get him anyway."

16. Immediately after declining Braden's sexual advance, Plaintiff Swindall's salary was
significantly reduced in breach of their employment agreement, which breach was in
retaliation for refusing to engage in Braden's quid pro quo request for sexual favors.

Instead of making approximately $20.25 per hour as promised and agreed, Mr. Swindall
was paid approximately $11.00 per hour.

17. On or about December 11, 2017, Braden again called Plaintiff into his office and stated,
"You haven't thanked me yet." While bitmg his lower lip and looking at Plaintiffs grain,
Braden ordered the Plaintiff to come over across his desk and to let Plaintiff "taste if,"
which was Braden's request to allow Plaintiff to receive oral sex from Braden. Plaintiff
again declined Braden's advance.

18. The Defendant Braden subsequently informed Plaintiff Swindall, "I've been with this
district for 30 years and I can make it hard for you to get another job with MNPS." Braden
informed Plaintiff that he would fill Plaintiffs personnel file with documentation that
would make it impossible for Plaintiff to get hired within Metro again.
19. The Defendant Braden then carried out his threat. Plaintiff Swindall had requested
advanced permission to leave school early to attend a wedding. When the day of the
wedding arrived, however, Braden refused to allow him to leave and made him take the
day as an unapproved absence. Braden then used this instance to falsely inform others that

Plaintiff was habitually late for work or that he had been routinely absent from his post.
20. Dr. Braden's sexual advances toward Plaintiff Swindall did not stop. Each time Swindall
turned down one ofBraden's advances, Braden would retaliate against him by makmg false
accusations and spreading false mmors about Plaintiff. For example, Braden falsely
accused Plaintiff of stating to a female student, "if you were only my age..." suggesting a

prospective romantic interest. In retaliation for declining Braden's sexual advances,

Braden had this false accusation placed into Plaintiff Swindall's personnel file in order to
make it difficult for him to be hired at any other school in MNPS and in order to build a
paper trail to procure his termination.
21. Because of Defendant Braden's constant sexual advances and retaliatory conduct, he

created an objectively hostile work environment and Plaintiff Swindall began dreading
going to work.
22. Plaintiff Swindall reported Braden's harassment to the assistant principal, Howard Jones,
Dr. Kelly Latham, the Boolckeeper and Administrator of Records, Kimberly Crowder, and

School Resource Officer Williams.
23. Plaintiff Swindall's complaint ofBraden's misconduct was forwarded to Metro HR.
24. The day after Plaintiff Swindall was interviewed by Metro HR, Dr. Braden had the Plaintiff
escorted out of JFK Middle by the School Resource Officer, in fall view of all students,
teachers, and employees, in retaliation for Swindall's complaint of harassment.

25. Howard Jones, the Assistant Principal, told Plaintiff Swindall, "I'm only doing this because
they made me do it. Make sure that you tell that to Metro HR."
26. The investigation into Plaintiff Swindall's report of sexual harassment was a sham. No
finding was made against Dr. Braden despite consistent allegations from numerous

employees and overwhelming evidence that Braden had created an objectively hostile work
environment at JFK Middle and had retaliated against numerous employees.

27. Metro did not seriously address Plaintiff Swindall's complaint of sexual harassment, and
he was required to return to work in the constant presence of his harasser, Dr. Braden.

Because an objectively hostile work environment had been created, Swindall called in sick
until the semester was over.

28. Plaintiff Swindall was notified that there would be no finding against Dr. Braden and that
he was to return to work. He notified Metro that he was uncomfortable working with
Braden. Given no option but to work in close proximity to his harasser and to face work

conditions that were intolerable. Plaintiff SwindaU was constructively discharged from his
employment and forced to submit his resignation in January of 2018.
29. Following Swindall's constructive discharge, Dr. Braden approached the bookkeeper,
Kimberly Crowder, and the Front Desk Clerk, Ms. Petway, and requested that they provide

him with a false statement that Swindall was habitually late to work. The two women
refused to lie for Braden. Over the next two months, Braden repeatedly informed them

that he was going to "write somebody out of the budget" unless they provided him a written
statement regarding Plaintiff Swindall.
30. Defendant Braden was unable to write Kimberly Crowder out of the budget because he
lacked the authority to do so. Braden, however, was able to terminate Ms. Petway by

writing her out of the budget, in retaliation for her refusal to submit a false statement
regarding Plaintiff Swindall.
31. Plaintiff Swindall was offered a job at Oliver Middle School, which he accepted. The
Defendant Braden learned ofSwindaIl's prospective employment and ultimately prevented
it, in furtherance of his retaliation against Swindall.
B. Plaintiff SonjiCollins.
32. Sonji Collins has been a teacher at JFK Middle for many years. After his arrival at JFK
Middle, the Defendant Braden began making sexual advances towards PlaitniffCollins.

33. On or about May 18, 2017, Dr. Braden's demands escalated in intensity and frequency and
took on a more threatening, physical element. He stated to Plaintiff Collins, "Don't make
me grab you in front of all these people."

34. On or about May 23,2017, during a Field Day for the 8th Graders, Braden accosted Plaintiff
Collins again. While staring at her, Braden began approaching Collins very closely while
saying, "Are you ignoring me? Don't make me grab you out here and kiss you." In
response. Plaintiff Collins made it clear to Braden that his sexual advances were not
welcome.

35. In retaliation for rebuffing Braden's sexual advances, Braden began spreading false rumors

about Plaintiff Collins to other teachers. Braden stated that Plaintiff Collins was "mad
because she's in love with me," and that Collins "wants my body" and that he and Collins

had engaged in touching and kissing, all of which was false.
36. Defendant Braden closely followed Plaintiff Collins around the school in an effort to
intimidate and bully her.
37. During a teacher in-service, on or about August 4, 2017, Defendant Braden approached

Plaintiff Collins from behind while she was seated and grabbed her tightly in a "bear hug"
in front of other employees. He then refused to release her. Braden's grasp was so forceful,

he nearly pulled Ms. Collins out of her chair.
38. Dr. Braden retaliated against Plaintiff Collins constantly, impugning her professional
reputation with false statements. On numerous occasion, Braden told Collins, '"I wish you
would just leave."

39. Because Plaintiff Collins was trying to avoid Defendant Braden, he submitted a false
reprimand against her for having a "bad attitude." Although no crime had been committed

and none was suspected, Braden called a uniformed police officer into the meeting in order

to intimidate Collins and bully her while serving her with this baseless reprimand.
40. Defendant Braden showed Plaintiff Marcus Kimion the reprimands that he was submitting
against other employees, including the reprimand of Plaintiff Sonji Collins.
41. Defendant Braden made it clear to Plaintiff Kinnon and other employees that they were not
to talk to Plaintiff Collins in order to alienate her at her workplace. He told Plaintiff
Kimion, "I'm going to get her ass. She's f-i!**ing with the wrong person." He bragged

about calling the police on her. He stated that he wrote Collins up for "having a bad
attitude," which was a pretext for retaliation. In fact, the real reason for the false reprimand
was because Ms. Collins had been avoiding Braden.
42. Defendant Braden frequently bragged about his penis size being "nine or ten inches." He

told employees, including Plaintiff Collins about his "snake," and that they "couldn't
handle it." On other occasions, Braden referred to himself as "Big Daddy" and informed
people that they "couldn't handle 'Big Daddy'" and that he was "nine to ten inches."

43. On or about March 29, 2018, Defendant Braden informed employees, including Plaintiff
Collins, that he had "put his wife's back out" from sexual intercourse.

44. Defendant Braden found out that Plaintiff CoUins'' boyfriend had tragically committed
suicide almost two decades ago. To retaliate against Collins, he began making outrageous
statements and spread false rumors that Collins had murdered her boyfriend.

45. On May 15, 2018, Plaintiff Collins filed charges against Braden with the MNPS Board of
Education. In furtherance of the Defendant Metro's scheme to protect and shield Braden
from sexual harassment complaints and generally to ignore such complaints, Plaintiff
Collins' complaint was ignored.

C. Plaintiff Marcus Kinnon.

46. Plaintiff Marcus Kiunon is a literacy teacher development specialist at MNPS. For three
years. Defendant Braden had attempted to recruit Mr. Kinnon over to JFK Middle from

another school, and in August of 2017, Mr. Kinnon transferred to JFK Middle.
47. Shortly after the transfer, Defendant Braden told employees that he had brought Kinnon to
JFK Middle because he was "eye candy" and that Kinnon would do whatever Braden
wanted him to do, implying conduct of a sexual nature. He made frequent inappropriate
comments and told employees that Mr. Kinnon was gay and that he "could touch all ten
toes."

48. The Defendant Braden was sexually interested in Mr. Kinnon and Braden frequently made
comments of a sexual nature toward him, including frequent conversations about the size

ofBraden's penis, sexual comments about Plaintiff Swindall, and similar, inappropriate
topics.

49. After Spring Break in 2018, Plaintiff Kinnon's partner met him at school, which was
authorized according to MNPS policy. Upon learning that Kinnon had a partner, Braden's

attitude toward Kinnon suddenly changed and he became instantly jealous. He informed
Kinnon and his partner that Kinnon was not allowed to have visitors. He demanded that
Kinnon's partner leave, and followed the two out of the building, while uttering mde
remarks.

50. Subsequent to discovering that Plaintiff Kinnon had a partner, Braden increased scrutiny
over Kinnon's work and began micromanaging him. in order to make working conditions
intolerable.

51. In furtherance of his retaliation toward Kiimon, he began spreading false rumors that Mr.
Kinnon's partner was a "pedophile."
52. When Mr. Kinnon took sick leave, he presented Braden with doctors notes in accordance

with MNPS policy. Braden became irate and demanded that Kinnon stop following the
policy, which Kinnon refused to do.

53. In April of 2018, Defendant Braden, apparently under the belief that Mr. Kinnon had
obeyed his demands and was no longer submitting doctor's notes, called the Central Office

and falsely informed them that Plaintiff Kimion was intentionally not coming to work.
54. Thereafter, Plaintiff Kinnon filed a complaint against Defendant Braden. As it had done
with other complaints against Braden, the Defendant Metro conducted a sham investigation

which resulted in no finding against Braden.
55. Following Plaintiff Kumon's complaint, Braden became irate and increased his retaliation
against Kimion. He threatened Mr. Kinnon and demanded that he provide a written
statement regarding his complaint. After providing a written statement, Braden responded

in writing and falsely stated that Kinnon was not truthful in order to tarnish Kinnon's
professional reputation. Braden then coerced three of Mr. Kiimon's co-workers to provide
statements that could ultimately be taken out of context and used against Mr. Kinnon.

56. Defendant Braden increased his harassment of Plaintiff Kinnon and continued to spread
even more false rumors about Mr. Kinnon and his partner to employees in order to alienate
Kinnon at work.
57. Because of the hostile work environment created by Defendant Braden, Plaintiff Kinnon

and Plaintiff Collins experienced a great deal of mental distress and attempted to transfer
out of JFK Middle in 2018. The Defendant Braden found out that both Plaintiff Kinnon

10

and Plaintiff Collins were inquiring about transferring. Braden then interfered with the
transfers and prevented them from taking place.
58. During the sham "investigations" into Sam Braden's conduct, the Defendant Metro was
made aware of numerous disturbing allegations which it likewise chose to ignore and/or
cover up:
a. Shortly after the School Resource Officer's father passed away, on or about January
9, 2018, his co-workers took up a collection, contributing over $350. They

purchased an edible arrangement for $153, with the rest of the collection intended
to be a cash gift or for a purchase of a gift card. Dr. Braden insisted that they give
Officer Williams a gift card, and he showed employees a gift card purchased from
Ruth Chris. Dr. Braden took the collection money, but kept the money and/or gift
card for himself. He instead provided Officer Williams with around $30 of cheaper
gift cards that had already been opened and were apparently "re-gifted."
b. It was specifically reported that Dr. Braden frequently steals school resources,
including snacks for the school and the students, flowers to be used in a classroom

fish tank, school holiday decorations, and other items. No investigation into this
matter was ever conducted.

c. Defendant Braden frequently threatened employees, including the Plaintiffs, by
stating that he will write them out of his budget, which will cause the termination
of their employment. He bragged to numerous employees that he had written
employees out of the budget before.

d. Defendant Braden frequently threatened employees, including the Plaintiffs, by
stating that he could keep them from getting a job at any school.

11

e. On another occasion, Defendant Braden told the teachers that he had seen a female
teacher "scratching her pu**y" in the hallway.
f. The Defendant Braden had engaged in similar behavior numerous times over the
years, of which the Defendant Metro was well aware. One of Defendant Braden's
victims was a former custodian from whom Braden had also made numerous sexual
advances. Dr. Braden had invited the custodian to his house, purportedly to
construct a gazebo in Braden's yard. The custodian's co-workers never saw him
again because he never returned to work after visitmg Braden' s house, during which
time Braden had made numerous sexual advances toward the custodian.
g. In a particularly disturbing and disgusting encounter. Defendant Braden was made

aware of a student who had allegedly being molested by her mother's boyfriend.
To the utter dismay of employees, upon being presented with these allegations
Braden stated, "Who did he rape? Did he rape me?"

METRO'S INTERFERENCE WITH REPORTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
D. Plaintiff Scott Lindsey.
59. In order to protect and shield Defendant Braden, individuals within Metro HR acted in
league with Braden and failed and refused to follow Metro's policies and procedures for
complaints of harassment. Following Plaintiff Swindall's complaint of harassment,

Plaintiff Scott Lindsey, a former investigator with Metro HR, prepared and delivered a
letter to Braden placing him on administrative leave in accordance with Metro protocol and
established practice. Afiter he notified Sharon Pertiller, the Executive Officer of Metro HR,
and Deborah Story about the allegations on December 13, 2017, Pertiller immediately
rushed into Mr. Lindsey's office and became irate. She ordered that the letter be retrieved

12

and delivered to her. When Braden returned, Pertiller grabbed the letter from his hand and
escorted Scott Lindsey to an office, where she tore the letter into pieces while saying, "You

are NOT going to put Dr. Braden on leave!" Mr. Lindsey then told Ms. Pertiller that she
did not know all the facts and that the situation was serious, again reiterating that Braden
needed to be placed on administrative leave. Sharon Pertiller's interference with the
investigation and destruction of the letter was a clear violation of Metro policy.

60. Pertiller falsely stated that Mr. Lindsey had not used the proper format for an administrative
leave letter.
61. MNPS does not have a standard form or format for administrative leave letters.

62. Sharon Pertiller provided Braden with information, including complaints or grievances
about him, that was supposed to remain confidential. In an effort to intimidate employees
and prevent complaints from being lodged against him, Braden frequently boasted about
his access to inside information from Pertiller, as well as from a friend at the MNPS Human
Resources department. Dr. Barry Potts.
63. Sharon Pertiller's actions were part of a policy and practice at Metro of selective

enforcement of Metro rules and protection of certain individuals, including the Defendant
Braden. Ms. Pertiller had previously interfered with a Metro HR investigation involving a
sexual harassment complaint against Moreno "Mo" Carrasco, a friend ofMNPS Director
Dr. Shawn Joseph. Mr. Carrasco had previously worked with Dr. Joseph in Maryland, and

accompanied Joseph to Nashville m 2016.
64. In the summer of 2017, Mr. Carrasco had been accused of sexual harassment and groping
the breasts ofMNPS employee Vanessa Garcia. The allegations were reported by Garcia
to MNPS Board Member Amy Frogge, who then informed Dr. Joseph of the harassment

13

allegation. Metro did not conduct an investigation and ignored the complaint, and the
harassment of Garcia continued.
65. On November 15, 2017, Dr. Garcia reported the harassment directly to Plaintiff Lindsey.

Pursuant to his job duties, responsibilities, and authority, he immediately took Garcia's
statement and began an investigation. Per MNPS protocol, Mr. Lindsey notified Mo
Carrasco's supervisor, Deborah Story, that a complaint of sexual harassment had been

lodged agamst him.
66. After speaking with Dr. Joseph, Deborah Story told Plaintiff Lindsey not to inform anyone
that an investigation of Carrasco had been initiated. Dr. Joseph instructed Story that the
investigation was to be kept only between him, Ms. Story, and Mr. Lindsey.

67. On November 20, 2017, Plaintiff Lindsey first became aware that Garcia had previously
reported harassment to Amy Frogge. Neither Deborah Story nor Sharon Pertiller had
informed Mr. Lindsey of the harassment that had occurred during the summer of 2017.
68. Per protocol, Mr. Carrasco was placed on administrative leave. After Plaintiff Lindsey had

conducted eight (8) witness interviews, Sharon Pertiller became aware of the investigation.
Mr. Lindsey was asked if the investigation could be completed by the next day. Mr.
Lindsey responded that he could not finish the investigation within that time frame.
However, Lindsey informed Pertiller and Story that Mo Carrasco was likely going to be
his final interview. In order to control the outcome of the investigation, Pertiller stated that
she would conduct a "joint interview" ofCarrasco wifh Mr. Lindsey.

69. On November 21,2017, Mr. Lindsey informed Sharon Pertiller that the investigation was
likely going to result in multiple findings against Carrasco. Specifically, Ms. Pertiller was

14

informed, inter alia, "It is so bad that Mo has violated every type of sexual harassment
imaginable."
70. Pertiller then threatened Scott Lindsey over the phone: "If you don't get your investigation
right. Dr. Joseph will fire you." Mr, Lindsey understood M.s. Pertiller to mean that if he

did not find that the allegations against Carrasco were unsubstantiated or unfounded, that
he would be terminated. His investigation, however, yielded significant evidence that the
allegations agamst Carrasco were tme and that Carrasco should be disciplined for sexual
harassment.

71. In response to Pertiller's threat oftennination and interference, Scott Lindsey sent Pertiller

and Deborah Story the following text message:

If you no longer want
me to be involved in

this investigation just
^3 let me know. I have
6:39 PM written no report
72. Because Scott Lindsey had learned that Dr. Shawff Joseph had been made aware of the
allegations against Cai-rasco, he concluded he needed to mterview both Dr. Joseph and

Amy Frogge about the mcidents that occurred during the summer of 2017. Ms. Pertiller
refused to allow Dr. Joseph or Amy Frogge to be interviewed, in violation ofMNPS policy.
73. Despite a conflict of interest, Ms. Pertiller took control of the investigation about Garcia,
and demanded to see Mr. Lindsey's notes from the witness interviews. Pertiller was given
Mr. Lindsey's notes, returned to his office, and falsely stated that he had not conducted a
proper investigation because Mr. Lindsey had not used the correct form.

15

74. MNPS attorney Corey Harkey, however, had informed Mr. Lindsey that his investigation
notes were very good.

75. Ms. Pertiller stalled the investigation and required second interviews of witnesses. She

required Mr. Lindsey to print off his emails so that she could dictate his responses to them.
76. Prior to the interview of Carrasco, Mr. Lindsey drafted the questions that would be asked
of Carmsco during the interview. Although it had never been done before, Pertiller
demanded that Lindsey remove the names of witnesses and complainants. Carrasco was

then able to deny the allegations because he did not know who had made the allegation
against him. The first interview of Carrasco was therefore a sham.

77. Scott Lindsey informed Pertiller that the omission of the names of witnesses and
complainants during the Carrasco interview was unprecedented and in error, and that
Carrasco would need to be properly interviewed. The evidence indicated that Mr. Carrasco

had made untmthful statements in his intendew that supported the conclusion that he was
guilty of violating MNPS's sexual harassment policy. On the day that Carrasco was to be
interviewed for a second time, he submitted his resignation. The inability to properly
interview Carrasco a confront him about the allegations was the product of Sharon
Pertiller's stall tactics, obstruction and mterference with Mr. Lindsey's investigation.
78. Mr. Carrasco was in fact found to have violated Metro policy, and Ms. Pertiller's promised

retaliation ensued. Plaintiff Lindsey was given a baseless written reprimand immediately
after the Carrasco investigation. In an effort to control and influence Mr. Lindsey's future

investigations, Pertiller informed him that she would not place the reprimand in Mr.
Lindsey's personnel file if he did not provide a written response to it. She then informed
Mr. Lindsey that the reprimand would be placed in his file if he ever pursued legal action.

16

79. As she had done with the Carrasco investigation, in December of 2017, Pertiller interfered
and obstructed the investigation of Defendant Braden.

80. After the attempted Braden investigation, in April of 2018, Pertiller filed another series of
baseless reprimands against Plaintiff Lindsey. PertiUer mformed him that she would
recommend his termination, and that he would receive a termination letter. Mr. Lindsey
was forced to resign in lieu of termination.

81. Immediately prior to the Carrasco and Braden investigations, Mr. Lindsey had received a
positive evaluation which indicated he was performing above expectations. He had even

been promoted from Director of Employee Relations to Executive Director of Employee
Relations and received a significant raise in his salary.
82. Following Mr. Lmdsey's forced resignation, Deborah Story and Dr. Joseph falsely accused
Mr. Lindsey of failing to forward reports to the state licensure board, which was never a

part of his job duties. The false accusations were ma4e in order to tarnish his professional
reputation and to continue retaliating against him.
83. As an entity, MNPS had a policy and practice of ignoring complaints of sexual harassment,
as well as interfering with investigations of harassment. MNPS has engaged in a pattern
of practice of protecting Defendant Braden by dismissing complaints against him, despite
overwhelming evidence that he has consistently violated the school's anti-harassment
policies for many years. The conduct of Defendant Braden, having been accepted and

tolerated by MNPS, is therefore imputed to the Defendant Metro as an official policy and
custom.

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CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT ONE: UNLAWFUL RETALIATION.
84. The Tennessee Human Rights Act makes it a discriminatory practice in T.C.A. ? 4-21-301
for a person or for two (2) or more persons to retaliate or discriminate in any manner against
a person because such person has opposed a practice declared discriminatory by this
chapter or because such person has made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted or
participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding or hearing under this chapter.

85. Plaintiffs opposed the Defendants' discriminatory behavior by filing complaints and
cooperating with Human Resources during official mvestigations. Plaintiff Lindsey
assisted and participated m the investigation into Carrasco and Braden, and refused to
participate in the Defendant Metro's illegal demands that he cover up or ignore
discriminatory conduct discovered in his investigations into both Carrasco and Braden.

86. The Plaintiffs' opposition to the Defendant's discriminatory behavior, their reports of
discriminatory behavior, and assistance and participation m the investigations, constitute
activity protected by statute.
87. Defendant Metro and Defendant Braden had knowledge of the Plaintiffs' exercise of
protected activity.

88. Following their reports of discrimination and/or harassment, the Plaintiffs were retaliated
against by Defendant Braden with defamatory and derogatory comments, as well as the
other retaliatory conduct alleged herein.

89. PlamtiffLindsey was retaliated against by Sharon Pertiller via baseless written reprimands,
the threat of termination, and coerced resignation.

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90. The retaliatory conduct resulted in materially adverse changes in the terms and conditions
of the Plaintiffs' employment.
91. The Defendant Metro knowingly permitted conditions of discrimination in employment so
intolerable that a reasonable person subject to them would resign. A reasonable employer

would have foreseen Plaintiff Swindall's resignation and Plamtiff Collins' and Plaintiff
Kinnon's attempts to transfer, given the intolerable conditions of employment. A

reasonable person would have foreseen Plaintiff Lindsey was forced to resign in lieu of
termination.

92. Because of the Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff Swindall resigned from his position, having
been constructively discharged from his employment. Plaintiff Lindsey was given no
alternative but to resign or be terminated.

93. But for engaging in activity protected by statute, the Plaintiffs would not have been
retaliated against and Plaintiff Swindall would not have been constructively discharged
from his position. In the alternative, the Plaintiffs' engaging in protected activity or
exercising rights protected by public policy was a substantial factor motivating the
Defendant Metro's decision.

94. The Defendant Metro is vicariously liable for the acts of Defendant Braden and Sharon
Pertiller, management employees.

95. By virtue of the foregoing allegations. Plaintiffs also assert a claim for common law
retaliation and for Plaintiffs Swindall and Lindsey, retaliatory discharge.

COUNT TWO: HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
96. As alleged herein. Defendant Braden's frequent sexual comments and inappropriate

behavior permeated the work environment at JFK Middle on a daily basis.

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97. Defendant Braden began a campaign of harassment and retaliation against all employees

who rebuffed his sexual advances and those that were not complacent with his retaliatory
scheme and inappropriate and highly sexualized behavior.
98. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is female and is therefore a member of a protected class. Plaintiffs
Sherman Swindall and Marcus Kinnon are male and therefore members of a protected
class.

99. The Plaintiffs were subjected to unwelcome sexual harassment by Defendant Braden,
which harassment occurred because of the employee's gender.
100. The harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of employment.
101. The harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an objectively hostile
or abusive work environment which a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive.

102. The harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of the Plaintiffs'
employment.

103. The Defendant Metro knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to
respond with prompt and appropriate corrective action to eliminate the harassment, and the
Defendant Metro is therefore liable for the acts of Defendant Braden.

COUNT THREE: QUID PRO QUO SEXUAL HARASSMENT
104. Plaintiff Sonji Collins is female and is therefore a member of a protected class.
Plaintiffs Sherman Swindall and Marcus Kinnon are male and therefore members of a
protected class.
105. The Plaintiffs were subjected to either sexual advances or requests for sexual
favors.

106. The harassment was based on sex.

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107. The Plaintiffs' submission to the harassment was an express or unplied condition
for receiving job benefits, or refusal to submit to Defendant Braden's demands resulted in

tangible job detriment.
108. The Defendant Metro knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to
adequately respond and is therefore vicariously liable for the acts of Defendant Braden, a
management employee.

COUNT FOUR: OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT
109. The Defendant Braden's conduct alleged herein was intentional or reckless;
110. The Defendant Braden's conduct was so outrageous in character, and so extreme
in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and to be regarded as atrocious

and utterly intolerable in a civilized society.
111. The Defendant Braden's conduct resulted in serious mental injury to the
Plaintiffs.
112. The distress inflicted by Defendant Braden was sufficiently severe that no
reasonable person could be expected to endure it, and the Defendant Braden is therefore

liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

COUNT FIVE: TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
AND PROSPECTWE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
113. The Defendant Braden was aware that the Plaintiffs were seeking a transfer to a
different school and Plaintiff Swindall was seeking employment at Oliver Middle School.
114. The Defendant Braden intentionally, by improper motive and improper means,
prevented the transfer and/or employment of the Plaintiffs by improper means, including
misrepresentation, defamation, unethical conduct, overreaching and through undue
influence.

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115. The Plaintiffs prospective business relationships with different middle schools
were ended when Defendant Braden interfered with the transfer and application process,

and the Plaintiffs were unable to transfer and Plaintiff Swindall was not hired at Oliver.
116. As a direct and proximate cause of the actions of Defendant Braden, the Plaintiffs
have been damaged and continue to be damaged.

COUNT SIX: DEFAMATION
117. The Defendant Braden published statements, orally and in writing that were of
and concerning Plaintiff Collins, knowing that his statements were false, including his
accusation that she was a murderer.
118. The Defendant Braden published statements orally that were of and concerning

Plaintiff Kinnon, knowing that his statements were false, including the accusation that
Kiimon was datmg a pedophile.

119. The import of the Defendant Braden's statements was to portray Plaintiff Collins
and Plaintiff Kinnon as immoral, guilty of criminal acts, or other misconduct.
120. The Defendant Braden's statements were false at the time they were made.
121. Because the Defendant Braden's false statements were stated orally to third parties,
they constitute slander.

COUNT SEVEN: DEFAMATION BY IMPLICATION ORINNUENDO
122. Because the Defendant Braden omitted facts, which, if properly presented would
not have created a negative impression of the Plaintiffs, the Defendant Braden is guilty of
defamation by implication or innuendo.

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COUNT EIGHT: FALSE LIGHT
123. The Defendant Braden' s false accusations placed Plaintiff Collins before the public
in a false light. The false accusations also place the Plaintiff in a false light within a
cognizable and reasonably foreseeable group consisting of fellow teachers and employees

at JFK Middle and within the MNPS system.
124. The false light in which the Plaintiff was placed would be highly offensive to a
reasonable person. The Defendant Braden had actual knowledge of or acted in reckless

disregard to the falsify of the published matter and the false light in which the Plaintiffs
would be placed.

125. By virtue of the Defendant Bmden's false accusations, Plaintiff Collins has suffered
irreparable damage to her professional and personal reputations.

COUNT NINE: BREACH OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
126. The Defendant Braden had the authority to directly hire Plaintiff Swindall, and
promised Swindall a salary of $42,100 dollars per year at JFK Middle, which was a material
term of the agreement between the parties.

127. Plaintiff Swindall accepted the salary promised by Defendant Braden and
commenced working at JFK Middle in furtherance of the agreement.

128. The Defendants breached the agreement by paying Plaintiff Swindall
approximately half of the salary he was owed.
129. The Defendants are therefore liable for breaching Plaintiff Swindall ' s employment
agreement.

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PUNmVE DAMAGES
130. Because the Defendant Braden's actions were intentional, malicious, or at a
minimum, reckless, he must answer in both compensatory and punitive damages in an
amount to be proven at trial and sufficient to deter others from misconduct of a similar
nature.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment as follows:
a) For lost wages, back pay, and the value of all employment benefits which Plaintiff Swindall
and Plaintiff Lindsey have lost from the date of Defendant's discriminatory and retaliatory
acts;

b) For damages in an amount to be determined at trial for the Defendants' breach of the
employment agreement reached with Plaintiff Swindall regarding his salary;
c) That the Court reinstate Plaintiff Swindall and Plaintiff Lindsey to their former positions
or equivalent jobs with all employment rights and benefits to which they would have been
entitled but for Plaintiff Litidsey's forced resignation and Plaintiff Swindall's constructive
discharge or, in the alternative, to award Plaintiff Swindall and Plaintiff Lindsey front pay
and benefits in lieu of reinstatement;
d) For an award of compensatory and non-economic damages not to exceed four million
dollars.

e) For an award of Punitive Damages against the Defendant Braden in the amount three
million dollars;
f) For an award of attorney's fees and costs as provided by law;

g) For such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to effectuate the purpose T.C.A. ?
4-21-101 etseq.

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Plaintiffs demand a jury to try all issues so triable.

Respectfully submitted,
THE BLACKBURN FIRM, PLLC

W. Gary Blackburn (#3484)
BryantKroll (#33394)
213 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 300

Nashville, TN 37219
P: (615) 254-7770
F: (866) 895-7272
gblackbum@wgaryblackbum. corn
bkroll@wgaryblackburn.com
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and exact copy of the foregoing document has been sent via
email and hand-delivery to the following:

Jeff Campbell (#22455)

F. Michie Gibson, Jr.

R. Alex Dickerson (#27184)
The Department of Law of the

4979 Lebanon Pike, Suite C

Metropolitan Government of

michiegibson(5)/la.wyer.com

Nashville and Davidson County
P.O. Box 196300

Attorney for Defendant Braden

Old Hickory, W 37138

Nashville, TN 37219

(615) 862-6341

j eff. campbell2@nashville. go v
alex.dickerson@nashville.gov
Assistant Metropolitan Attorneys

This

day of December, 2018.

Bryant Kroll

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