Education

More complaints filed against Osceola Clerk of Court

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Three more complaints have been filed against the embattled Osceola County Clerk of Court, by women in his office.

One of the women, Kim Zander, was the human resources director who told police Malcolm Thompson shoved a secretary. Thompson was charged with battery, but was found not guilty by a jury in April.

A day after the  verdict, a judge threw out a second case involving claims that Thompson verbally assaulted Zander.

All three women said they are being retaliated against for either making complaints against him, or for testifying against him in court.

One woman wrote that everyone has been walking on eggshells since he returned to his office at the courthouse.

After Thompson was acquitted in his workplace battery case, and had his verbal assault charge dropped, some people at the office told WFTV that they were terrified of his return.

In her complaint, Zander said Thompson is retaliating by not allowing her to attend director meetings.

Lisa Cubero wrote that while she was in tears during a meeting with Thompson he made the comment "you women react differently than men."

But the most detailed complaint came from Melissa Benoit who said she's "been made to feel threatened" by his actions after she testified against him.

Benoit claims Thompson is now preventing her from attending a national human resources convention that was already approved and paid for last year.

She said his behavior has created a stressful and unprofessional working environment.

Benoit is calling for an outside investigation into the office.

According to Benoit, when she asked for the grievance letter be put into her file, she said Thompson wrote an email back that said "absolutely not!!"  And she said that he went on to write:  "I will not let this clerk's office to be set up for a furious law suit by you."

WFTV's Jeff Deal, who went through the paperwork the women filed, believes that Thompson  meant to say "frivolous lawsuit" but hasn't been able to confirm that.

A letter was later given to the human resources director from another manager saying that she is now allowed to attend directors meetings.