Jodi Van Fossen, a former Shelby County deputy who was allegedly fired for inappropriate behavior and insubordination after making allegations that Sheriff Kimpel raped her last August, is taking her battle to federal court.
Van Fossen’s attorney Dan Klos said, along with the ongoing criminal investigation into the rape allegations being conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, he plans to file a lawsuit in federal court in Columbus within the next 30 days.
Klos said the lawsuit falls under Title 7, which is civil rights in the workplace. He said he will file several violations of Title 7, including disparate treatment, hostile work environment, sexual harassment and assault.
Klos said Sheriff Kimpel treated Van Fossen differently than the male members of the sheriff’s office and all of the conduct was both unwarranted and unwanted.
When asked why Klos chose to file the lawsuit in federal court, he said he hoped that the sheriff would have no choice but to abide by the ruling of a federal judge. “I think the allegations are as serious as they can be no matter where they're brought. The real question is where do you maximize your available remedies and the availability of the courts to fashion a remedy?”
Klos has already filed an EEOC complaint with the state and said all of that information will be part of his federal case.