A senior investigator for the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in South Jersey sexually harassed a woman he worked with almost daily, commenting on her breasts and calling her “hot babe,” according to a lawsuit filed in superior court in January.
The lawsuit also claims that the same investigator bullied a male coworker, and that both victims’ alleged complaints to their bosses only resulted in swift retaliation.
Kristine Bodnar, a drug and alcohol counselor for the Center for Family Services, said in the suit that she endured eight months of unwanted advances from DCPP Senior Investigator Ian Palumbo at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency Burlington East Local Office in Lumberton. When she complained to the Center for Family Services, she was blamed and transferred to the Camden office against her wishes, the lawsuit said.
"This experience has made me look at the stereotypical way these situations are handled,” Bodnar, 32, of Merchantville, said of her employer’s response. “Everything I feared is exactly what has happened and some.”
The lawsuit also said Palumbo repeatedly called DCPP investigator Jake Stouch homophobic slurs and other names possibly because he was jealous that Stouch and Bodnar were friends. Stouch said in the lawsuit that his supervisors at DCPP tried to get him transferred when he reported the harassment he and Bodnar were allegedly facing.
“It is concerning that even after all the disturbing evidence of Mr. Ian Palumbo’s repeated predatory behaviors he remains employed without any repercussions,” Stouch, 26, of Marlton, said in a statement. “I now understand why it's so difficult for victims to come forward because sexual harassers like Mr. Palumbo aren't held accountable for their actions.”
Palumbo did not return calls seeking comment. A DCPP spokesman said the division cannot comment on litigation, and the Center for Family Services did not respond to a request for comment.
In addition to naming Palumbo and their employers as defendants, Stouch and Bodnar are also suing two DCPP supervisors, Bodnar’s supervisor and two human resource staffers at the Center for Family Services.
Allegations of inappropriate behavior
The lawsuit, filed Jan. 18 by Matthew Luber of the Marlton firm McOmber & McOmber, P.C., said Palumbo began harassing Bodnar in March or April of 2018. Bodnar’s work meant she was in contact with DCPP staff often because parents were ordered into counseling as part of child protection cases, the lawsuit said.
What started as comments about her “looking good” and being a “babe” eventually escalated to him talking to her about her sexual preferences and breasts, and even texting her that he wanted to kiss her, the lawsuit said.
Luber wrote that Bodnar repeatedly rebuffed Palumbo and eventually blocked his cell number.
The lawsuit said that this text exchange, purportedly between Ian Palumbo and Kristine Bodnar, is an example of his inappropriate comments about her appearance. (From civil complaint)
Palumbo then began pestering her about Stouch, implying they were in a sexual relationship and spreading rumors, the lawsuit said.
Bodnar reported the harassment to her supervisor on Nov. 16, 2018. At a meeting, human resources staff instead suggested she dressed inappropriately and spent too much time with DCPP investigators.
The center’s head of human resources told her “she was being transferred because of both the other issues discussed and because of the situation involving Defendant Palumbo,” the suit said. She was transferred Dec. 3.
The lawsuit claims that Palumbo called Stouch a homophobic slur and names meant to question his masculinity.
In November, Stouch reported Palumbo’s remarks, but his supervisors ignored his complaints, the lawsuit said. Palumbo and Stouch each made an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint about the other’s behavior, the lawsuit said.
Eventually, Stouch’s bosses at DCPP and the office handling his EEO complaint tried unsuccessfully to get him to agree to be transferred to another office, the lawsuit said.
The civil complaint argues that the defendants violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and should have to pay damages and attorneys fees. The lawsuit also asks a judge to order the defendants to undergo trainings and take action to stop and prevent harassment and retaliation in their offices.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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