Second suit filed against KY insurance office

Whistleblower concerns about harassment are at the center of new allegations now facing a state insurance office

Insurance News

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The Office of Legal Services in the Kentucky Insurance Division is no doubt an interesting place to work. Bringing that point home is that a second attorney in the office has filed suit against the office, claiming that she has been harassed and threatened since she reported that several of her coworkers were running a sex-toys business on state time, and using state computers and packaging materials in their business.

Kim Whitley, who is still employed as a staff attorney, filed her suit Dec. 1. It follows on the heels of a suit file in November by Whitley’s former supervisor Jacqueline Heyman, who said she was fired after informing her boss of the improprieties.

Whitley said it was she who pointed the problem out to Heyman in the first place.

Whitley’s lawsuit says she received a letter from the general counsel for the Public Protection Cabinet, which oversees the insurance office, telling her to “cease reporting mismanagement and ethical violations,” and noting that failure to adhere to the directive could lead to disciplinary action.

Whitley suit also alleges “widespread falsification” of timesheet filed by the employees who run the sex business, saying they seem to receive “preferential treatment” from the general counsel.

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