Allegations of workplace harassment and retaliation have been brought forward in a recent federal court filing involving a former employee of the Eaton County Public Defender’s Office. The complaint was filed by Katie Sircher on April 13, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan against her former employer, Eaton County.
According to the complaint, Sircher worked as a senior criminal defense investigator from June 12, 2023 until January 31, 2025. She alleges that during her employment she was subjected to ongoing harassment and discrimination based on her sex and gender by Jeffrey Kaplan, identified as the male senior assistant public defender at the office. The document states that Kaplan held supervisory authority over Sircher and exercised control over her assignments and workload.
The filing reports that the harassment began with unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate late-night text messages, and demands for personal time. In August 2024, according to Sircher’s account in the complaint, this conduct escalated to physical battery when Kaplan allegedly cornered her in a conference room and forcibly kissed her despite her objections. After rejecting his advances and refusing to work unpaid overtime with him alone over a weekend, Sircher claims she was removed from a major investigation by Kaplan who also disparaged her reputation among colleagues.
Sircher asserts that she reported these incidents—including both the alleged harassment and subsequent retaliation—to chief public defender Timothy Havis and human resources director Ben Dawson. She claims that instead of addressing her concerns or ending the harassment, county leadership responded with hostility toward her complaints. “Defendant took no effective action to end the harassment and discrimination,” reads one section of the filing.
As described in the document, Sircher’s working conditions deteriorated further after she took emergency medical leave starting September 28, 2024 due to severe anxiety and trauma related to these events. Upon returning to work on January 2, 2025, she alleges that she was ostracized: stripped of investigative duties, uninvited from staff meetings so that Kaplan could attend without interruption to his working relationships, and falsely reported as no longer employed when clients inquired about her status.
Faced with what she describes as continued hostile treatment upon return from leave—and believing there would be no improvement—Sircher resigned on January 17, 2025. She subsequently filed a charge of discrimination against Eaton County before bringing this legal action.
The lawsuit outlines six counts against Eaton County: three under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (discrimination based on sex/gender; retaliation; hostile work environment) and three under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (discrimination; retaliation; hostile work environment). Each count repeats allegations that Sircher was treated differently than male employees or those not subject to similar harassment because of her sex or gender. The complaint states: “Sircher suffered damages as a result of Defendant’s discrimination that include but are not limited to back wages, frontpay, compensatory damages (including emotional distress), attorney’s fees, and litigation costs.”
In addition to monetary compensation for lost wages and benefits as well as emotional distress damages and legal costs incurred during litigation, Sircher requests “any additional relief…as the Court determines to be appropriate and just under the circumstances.” She has demanded a jury trial on all issues so triable.
The case is represented by attorney Mark S. Wilkinson of Paladin Employment Law PLLC based in Kalamazoo. The case identification number is 1:26-cv-01188.
Source: 126cv01188_Katie_Sircher_v_Eaton_County_Complaint_Western_District_of_Michigan.pdf
