News & Updates

On Monday, March 11, 2024, a jury in Rochester, Minnesota delivered its verdict in Jacob v. Olmsted County, a workplace discrimination lawsuit in which longtime county social worker, Wilhelmina Jacob, sued her employer, Olmsted County, claiming age, race, and gender discrimination and retaliation. The jury found in favor of Greene Espel’s client, Olmsted County, finding no liability, discrimination, or retaliation on the part of the County against Ms. Jacob.

For two weeks, Greene Espel attorneys Jenny Gassman-Pines and Aaron Knoll tried the case to a jury before Chief Judge Bueltel. The jury heard testimony regarding Ms. Jacob’s two decades of service with the Olmsted County Child and Family Services Department, including testimony from Ms. Jacob, her past and current supervisors, and several other County employees regarding Ms. Jacob’s allegations and the support County employees provided Ms. Jacob throughout her career with the County. Ultimately, the jury agreed with Olmsted County, finding that it did not discriminate or retaliate against Ms. Jacob.

Greene Espel was honored to represent Olmsted County, one of the firm’s long-standing public-sector clients, and we are proud of this result for our client.