Lindsay Okownowsky vs. Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General United States Department of Justice

Case Background

On September 22, 2021, Plaintiff Lindsay Okownowsky filed a workplace discrimination and harassment lawsuit in the United States District Court, California Central (Case number: 2:22cv422). This case was assigned toJudge Mark C. Scarsi and referred to Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar.

Cause

Lindsay Okonowsky, a GS-12 Staff Psychologist at FCI Lompoc, a federal correctional institution under the Department of Justice, sued the U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for workplace discrimination and harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit stemmed from social media harassment by Lieutenant Steven Hellman, who managed an Instagram page called “8_and_hitthe_gate.” The page featured sexist and vulgar content, much of which directly targeted Okonowsky. Despite her repeated complaints, the Bureau of Prisons failed to take timely or effective action. The harassment