4 0 obj 4 0 obj WebBrett D Spencer worked as a Dci Special Agent III for the State of South Dakota and in 2020 had a reported pay of $35.02 and a pay frequency of hourly according to public records. Ms Zylstra Kaiser encountered the same players involved in the events that led up to the malicious prosecution of Taliferro-Schwab, including Kim Dorsett. box 160 Pierre, SD 57501 Telephone: 605-224-8803 Attorneys for Defendant and Appellee _____________________ Zylstra-Kaiser is doing the right thing by exposing them all. She says shereceived positive performance reviews through mid-2011, when she says her mid-year evaluation praised her for her exceptional work product, ability to work amicably with other DCI agents and members of her task force, relentless work, and above-average case activity.. 5 0 obj For the record, I was never contacted or talked to by the AGs office about my criminal complaint and I also heard about the dismissal of my criminal complaint by the AG from news media. I filed a criminal complaint for Misprision of Felony (SDCL 22-11-12), Obstruction of Justice and Willful Failure to Perform Official Duty (SDCL 3-16-1) regarding: (SDCL 23-3-19) (SDCL 23-3-16) (SDCL 23-3-14) (SDCL 23-3-15) (SDCL 23-3-12) (SDCL 23-3-13) (SDCL 7-16-7) (SDCL 23-3-27) (SDCL 1-12-1) and (SDCL 34-20B-63). I mostly agree with you Jenny. I told my attorneys, 'I didn't sue Marty Jackley and i'm not going to enter into a contract with Marty Jackley.'". More Highway Patrol Trooper South Dakota State Government Q WebSpecial Agent Cam Corey began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff. 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DCI said they didn't have it. Kaiser told Erickson to stop, but his comments persisted. On or about October 20, 2011, Erickson told Plaintiff that Black had told the entire office about what was happening. I wish Laura well with her lawsuit as this has been a long and exhausting road for her and her family. I have worked with the nicest, most decent, sweetest homosexual men and can tell you that I much prefer them over some straight guy that thinks hes gods gift to women. Asking Were you horny when you were pregnant?; Saying Go ahead and walk away, because I am going to stare at your ass the whole time; Texting her to ask what color underwear she was wearing; Stating it was a good thing she was not single because otherwise he would hit on her all the time; Remarking that Plaintiff looked hot when she wore glasses. Black complained to DCI supervisors that Kaiser created a hostile work environment. More Highway Patrol Trooper South Dakota State Government "It was communicated to my attorneys that there had been a storm and part of a roof came off a building so Bryan Gortmaker is not available," Kaiser said. /Height 2192 HB 1221: Free School Meals for Every Student in South Dakota! To all the men out there that need advice on how to treat women in the workplace, Ill give you a clue. No need for me romanticiz about the DCI, in my relationship with Kevin Thumb there was no love. Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. Kaiser was on the drug task force in Aberdeen back in 2011, when she said a Brown County Sheriff's Deputy was appointed to the team and began sexually harassing her on a regular basis. I have personally met with supervisor Jason Even who demonstrated that he was a complete idiot who didnt know the first thing about law enforcement or criminal investigations. http://www.childadvocatesdefensefund.com/resources/. Powers spins this story because Dan Kaiser is a constant burr under the establishment machines saddle, and because establishment crony Marty Jackley is running for governor. Plaintiff apologized and stated that it was not her intent to have the office know about the issue. Remember, her life will be an open book before they would get through, and those low lifes arent just setting around playing racehorse pitch. That seems to be SOP for the DCI for a while now. Kaiser received positive reviews throughout her career. MN Attorney General Lori Swanson wouldnt put up with it. The total warrants served in 2011 were 401. 3 0 obj Then, her lawyer continued to attempt to contact the DCI attorney without response. Maybe its the places I go or the people I know. If not, it really doesnt matter, their lives might as well, be over. The only objective Kaiser did not complete according to DCI was rebuilding the trust with the men in the office who had shunned her. We would have been better off reporting these crimes to the Girl Scouts. MC, a preponderance of evidence shows that kind of behavior is common place. Not when they intend to use her to send a message. /BitsPerComponent 8 How often do you contact your legislators and Congress people about these issues? Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. This lawsuit, wherever it leads, provides another window on the corruption that oozes from every crevice in state government, Benda, EB-5, the GEAR UP matter, and much other business the current regime in Pierre is involved in. Agent Kaisers accusations are credible to me. South Dakota has a criminal for a governor just like voters wanted. %PDF-1.7 /Length 8 0 R 2 0 obj On November 4, 2011, Laura was in Pierre and aware of all of the state player (regarding her case and ours) that were present in Pierre as well. If all of this is true, then they deserve everything they have coming to them. Come on, people! The coincidence of the administrative attack on Zylstra Kaiser and the legal attack on Schwab, Taliaferro, and the Mette children suggests a connection, a multi-front push by Brown County an DCI to shut down potentially damaging lawsuits. Kaiser appealed the discipline to DCI and eventually to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, but each of her appeals was denied. ~D$fQn}d0(i \I$EauuuF|]>p(_t^A :5u2t,2!u6lTN .cL ;8zMxko^ {q//[\{J1hd@K yzN3B=_J. # She was paid on Wednesday after several months of negotiations. On November 4, 2011, (the same day that Black interrogated the Mette children as BrownCounty and the DCIrevved up their attack on Shirley Schwab and Brandon Taliaferro in the Mette child rape case)Even put ZylstraKaiser on a 30-day Work Improvement Plan,the nine tasks of which included submitting to a psychological evaluation, which DCI had linked to her maternity leave even though Plaintiff had returned from leave nearly a year earlier and had received two positive performance reviews and a promotion since then. The WIP also ordered Zylstra Kaiser to rebuild positive relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and managers. Zylstra obeyed, butgotthe cold shoulder from co-workers, including Black, who allegedly told her on November 8, We are done. I hope my experience can give strength to other victims of sexual harassment. Whalen Law Office, P.C. Dont take my word for it just Google it and perhaps you may have a little different view on the entirety of Lauras sexual harassment lawsuit against the State of SD. Box 127 Lake Andes, SD 57356 Telephone: 605-487-7645 Attorney for Plaintiff and Appellant ______________________ Robert B. Anderson May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson P.O. Kaiser said as a result of her reporting the harassment that led to her forced resignation, she was unable to find another job in law enforcement. Lastly, Lauras lawsuit is about sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation and the retaliation that followed after she tried to report it. Makes one wonder if DCI does anything right. But i doubt it. Then comes Brown County Deputy Ross Erickson: In or about August 2011, Brown County Deputy Ross Erickson was assigned to the Drug Task Force. Thanks. 0 replies 1 q % Fax: (605) 330-4860 State of South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program On information and belief, and knowing Even would investigate Plaintiffs harassment complaint, Black worked with Erickson, Bahr, and Lunzman to formulate a set of talking points in an effort to have Plaintiff removed from the department or terminated, including planning to state they did not trust Plaintiff, she falsified the harassment to test Blacks trustworthiness, they were unwilling to work with her, and that she was mentally ill and schizophrenic[Complaint, 2015.09.23]. I have not only watched and observed her efforts these past 3 years but supported her every step of the way as well. Dont be too hard on PP, he probably just doesnt know how to pull up the complaint. She seeks, among other things, a jury trial, compensatory relief and damages arising from loss of past and future income, benefits, emotional distress, and other damages, with interest on such amounts, and punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000, and lawyer fees. Recently, Special Agent Krierwho is assigned to the DCIs Electronic Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Is this a symptom of the Good Ol Boy mentality that reeks throughout the state? Popular Locations. The circuit court approved the Sexual Harassment - Hostile Work Environment, Failure to Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), Force Placed Insurance - Flood & Homeowners, Predatory Lending/Unfair Mortgage Servicing, Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination, Loans, Financing, and Borrowers' Rights Overview, Civil Rights and Impact Litigation Overview, Plaintiffs Public Housing Claims Move Forward in Minneapolis, Inside Sales Representative Brings Overtime Case Against Brightwheel, Nichols Kaster, PLLP Awarded First Tier Ranking on The 2023 Best Law Firms List. Mrs Kaiser is in fact Rep Dan Kaisers wife, a noted male Republican, who obviously supports her. If Im reading MC correctly, he wants the media out of the daily political and civic activities of our society until a court of law has determined innocence or guilt. The latest Tweets from South Dakota DCI (@SouthDakotaDCI). We are South Dakota's premier criminal justice and criminal investigative agency. The Court must still decide front pay, which is wage loss post-trial, and attorneys fees. Preston Johnson, Special Agent E-mail: preston.johnson@oig.hhs.gov US Department of Health and Human Services, OIG . There might be more to the this story than what we see here. :"x?W YfP(iv7xE' w2^Pt6kJIy\jhQ"1Bjx Nor is it about what is happening at the University of Minnesota. WebSTATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA CLASS SPECIFICATION Class Title: DCI Special Agent II Class Code: 688802 Pay Grade: L5 _____ A. WebWelcome to the DCI Website. Zylstra decided to talk about the harassment with fellow Aberdeen agent Mark Black, with whom she had a close relationship. (Remember, this is the same Mark Black who eventually was fired from the DCI following revelations of violent behavior toward his own wife.) She was living away from her husband and baby. "On February 28th I received a copy of that agreement," Kaiser said. While none have involved sexual advances (in either direction), the descriptions of DCI personnel here fit with my observations in general of DCI agents. Almost immediately, he began making sexually explicit comments to Plaintiff, revealing personal information, and making her feel uncomfortable, including, but not limited to: Now the properworkplace response to such behavior is to take this behavior straight to the boss, whose response should be to drop the hammer on the harasser. Near the end of February, Kaiser and her lawyer made a verbal agreement with the DCI attorney. << But MC, I am inclined to think that the more to the story may well follow the lines that Shirley and David lay out for us. Kaiser said she was reluctant about telling her superiors and eventually was forced out of her post as retaliation for reporting it. A couple years ago I was visiting friends in RC and overheard a group at the next table making fun of the women there. None of the men, including Ross Erickson, were disciplined by DCI or the Brown County Sherriffs Office. 7 0 obj /Resources The four men decided that Kaiser fabricated the sexual harassment allegations as test for Black and decided that they could no longer trust her and refused to work with her. 6 0 obj Both grievances were denied. Eventually, she was Sad, really, we were the greatest country on earth, and we cant even get this right. There are some parts of SD where women are treated with respect and dignity. In our society we do have courts of laws that seek the truth, in South Dakota justice is what the republican party says it is, and we also have the court of public opinion which can be as valuable as a court of law. WebDivision of Criminal Investigation Welcome to the DCI Website. c+g4]AjC`D93P=%OEY&TJ?2m;_e[F(Q\yv|.hxysU-nu#oRmX&{;=e|h=*)X+eZR~,-Erh? She has been through hell and back and she deserves all of our support as she goes forward. During the chain of events, Jackley's name was replaced on the agreement with, "elected and appointed officials," and then to Craig Ambach, the Director of the Office of Risk Management for the state. Kaiser then confronted Erickson one-on-one and asked him to stop the harassment. Jackley's office issued this statement about the delay of Kaiser's settlement on Tuesday: "The State of South Dakota confirms today that the State of South Dakota has finalized the Laura Zylstra Kaiser lawsuit. A special agent of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) sought several search warrants involving the Implicated Individual. WebThe graph below represents the number of search warrants DCI Special Agents participated in from 2008 through 2011. The case is titled, Laura Zyltra Kaiser v. Bryan Gortmaker, in his Official Capacity as South Dakota Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation, 15-CV-1030. Child abuse cases ought to have the same standard. Severson initially came to Centerville on August 18, You cite a few anecdotes, and Im sure instances happen. Kaiser successfully completed eight of the nine objectives of the plan, one of which required her to undergo a psychological evaluation. At the conclusion of trial, the jury found in favor of Kaiser on both her retaliation and gender discrimination claims. endobj I asked my friends if what they thought about the other table. After the failed communicative efforts, Kaisers attorneys filed an affidavit detailing the communication issues, as well as motions with the court to compel the settlement amount on May 14. Apply. A memorial sign honoring their sacrifice was placed north of Spearfish on U.S. Highway 85. Deb G, I could never see this good olboy mentality happening in MN. Zylstra Kaiser now charges Gortmaker withreprisal discrimination and sex discrimination under the federal Civil Rights Act and the South Dakota Human RelationsAct. 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The deck is so stacked against the accuser. It was a wonderful atmosphere. The jury found that Kaiser suffered retaliation and gender discrimination after she complained of sexual harassment by one of her colleagues in October 2011. endobj Purpose: Conducts or assists with criminal All you need to know about him is that he is an habitual liar. /Type /XObject I truly doubt it many other individuals would have endured what she has and kept on fighting to get to this point. Laura and I believe Black was given his marching orders on that day (November 4, 2011) to get rid of her case along with the Schwab Taliaferro case, partially supported by the following: During the November 4, 2011 off camera recording of Black and Ross Erickson, you can hear the following: Black: I have so much to lose. Erickson told Kaiser to get keys out of his pocket, described sex with his wife to Kaiser, and asked Kaiser if she was horny when she was pregnant, among others. This law suit may lead the way. In December 2011, following the work improvement plan, DCI informed Kaiser that effective January 3, 2012, she would be demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II and transferred to the Medicare Fraud unit in Pierre, South Dakota, away from her husband, Dan, an Aberdeen police officer, and fourteen month old child. $100,000?" stream Maybe it was around in the old day, but not now. It will be interesting to see how much this one will cost as the ags office will probably have to farm out the defense of this. SD women you dont have to put up with such nastiness. In the meantime, let us all take a breath, put politics and rhetoric aside, and support this courageous young lady. Keep in mind that I have several wonderful male friends whom I respect and enjoy. Imagine Marty Jackley complying with a federal judge to hand over DCI emails, people. By doing so, it has become clear that on November 4, 2011, Mark Black was given marching orders to get rid of a few individuals who were about the expose the state of wrong doing that would ultimately lead to major lawsuits against the State of SD. I hope Zylstra Kaiser rips them to shreds. My country ranch church in northwest SD was like that. endobj Clark bemoans an America moving forward under a black Democratic president but supports the criminal actions of Denny Daugaard in a crime-ridden, disease-prone chemical toilet like South Dakota: how bipartisan. Since 1937, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has served as the lifeline of support to South Dakotas law enforcement agencies, leading criminal /Name /PAGE0001 ", Former DCI agent receives $1.5 million settlement payment after months of delay, DEVELOPING: First responders on the scene at Husets Speedway after incident, Meteorologists Facebook post on grocery dividers sparks wild debate, Police: Two arrested in overnight burglary in Sioux Falls, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Frontier Climbing hosts first climbing competition in South Dakota, Washington Pavilion hosts free event to celebrate agriculture, Embe hosts FIRST LEGO League state championship, Fourth annual Womens Day of Service building hygiene kits. WebAbout us. http://www.ag.state.mn.us/ Comment on blogs in support of these things? When Zylstra Kaiser pointed out that that Erickson admitted to the conduct, Even chose not to believe her and said he was unhappy with her general work performance. Eventually, she was forced to resign in 2012. << WebIn 2018, I began my career as a Special Agent with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), where I was primarily charged with leading full-spectrum, complex Wingnuts are spinning a tangled web and one day they will receive their just rewards. In March 2012, Kaiser received her worst review of her eight-year career. DCI then conducted an investigation focused on Kaiser, accusing her of fabricating allegations as a trust test and placed her on a Work Improvement Plan just a few days later. I am also well aware that the large majority of males are not sexual criminals. PLEASE ATTACH THE there are appealable issues, but he has final say.'". MC has taken the typical male republican position here, doubt the womans credibility and worry about future of the men involved.