State Briefs July 2, 2011

Court rules against suit over office fling

BOISE - A longtime state worker who quit amid claims her boss showed favoritism to another employee and created a hostile work environment is not entitled to sue for damages, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled this week.

Lynette Patterson alleges that she and other employees in her unit at the state Department of Health and Welfare were negatively impacted by the favoritism their boss showed to another employee. Patterson was program supervisor in the fraud unit at the state agency.

Patterson claims her boss at the state agency, Audits and Investigations Bureau Chief Mond Warren, had a relationship with another female employee and that resulted in more favorable treatment toward that employee.

But the justices ruled unanimously Wednesday that the alleged conduct was not sufficient to constitute a hostile work environment, under state and federal civil rights laws. The Idaho Statesman reported the ruling was the Idaho Supreme Court's first decision on so-called "paramour favoritism."

Patterson quit her job in 2007 after 25 years with the state.

The court upheld the earlier decision of 4th District Judge Michael McLaughlin, who previously dismissed Patterson's claims against the state.

Woman's body recovered from Payette River

McCALL - An official in western Idaho said a woman's body was recovered Saturday from the Payette River following a two-day search.

McCall Interim Fire Chief Garrett de Jong said the body was found in a logjam about 11:30 a.m. Saturday about six miles downstream from McCall.

De Jong said searchers from various agencies began looking about 2 p.m. Friday after a neighbor reported a vehicle near a bridge in McCall.

The woman's name has not been released.

- The Associated Press