A paramedic is suing her employers in Greene County over allegations that a coworker sexually harassed her for nearly two years before he resigned.
The suit filed by Amy Ramsey said David Lancaster, the county’s then-fire marshal, subjected her to severe and pervasive harassment from September 2020 into 2022, both verbally and via Facebook messages that “were graphic, unsolicited and unwelcome.”
Among other claims, it said the county hired Lancaster in 2019 even though it knew he had been asked to leave a post in Wayne County for similar improper behavior. The county has filed responses denying claims brought by the suit and through its attorney says it did not allow harassment against Ramsey.
“At no time has the county, its management, or its commissioners participated in or condoned any form of harassment of Ms. Ramsey. Greene County does not tolerate any form of harassment. Greene County and its management deny all allegations of wrongdoing,” said Jennifer Milak, a partner with Teague & Campbell of Raleigh, the firm hired by the county to defend it.
Ramsey filed the suit in September in Greene County Superior Court. It was moved to federal court in November. A copy was sent anonymously to The Standard in January. Ramsey’s attorney, Victoria Kepes, in January filed a motion to withdraw as Ramsey’s attorney and in February filed a motion seeking an extension of deadlines in the case, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court. She did not respond to messages asking for comment.
The suit names as defendants Kevin Brock Kerney, Greene County’s current EMS Director, County Manager Kyle DeHaven, Jeremy Anderson and Berry Anderson, former EMS directors, and Lancaster. It said Ramsey was hired in 2017 as an EMT and earned a promotion to a paramedic position in 2021. Lancaster was hired in 2019 and unwanted advances began in August 2020, the lawsuit said.
It said the county allowed Lancaster to continue to work even though at least five other women in Greene County had complained about him. It said Lancaster was suspended for a short period in 2019 after the complaints.
Lancaster was allowed to resign in 2022 after a male coworker of Ramsey’s reported his behavior, the lawsuit said. Ramsey did not report the harassment herself because she feared of retaliation, according to her suit. Lancaster had a close relationship with Ramsey’s supervisors, it said.
The judge presiding over the case is Richard E. Myers II and the referral judge is Brian S. Meyers.
Many of the defendants involved in the case declined to comment, as did Lancaster’s personal attorney. DeHaven said the county alerted its insurance company to pay an attorney defend the county, DeHaven said.
DeHaven said Greene County’s Attorney Gay Stanley is involved in the case but Milak is the main legal representation for the defense.
The case was discussed in closed session at the Greene County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 2, according to the the meeting agenda. Commissioner Derek Burress said on his Facebook page that the case has been discussed at least twice before without any mention on an agenda.
“Furthermore, the original lawsuit which was filed by Mrs. Ramsey and her attorney has never been revealed, nor have we as commissioners ever been given a copy of it for our own review,” Burress’ post said. “I have a copy of the original lawsuit, available as a public record at the courthouse. What we have today is not the original. So, I question why we are just now choosing to reveal this lawsuit when we should have mentioned it several months ago.”
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