DAVENPORT, Iowa — A former municipal attorney has filed a complaint against the city of Davenport, alleging that she faced persistent harassment and discrimination from city officials, which she claims were severe enough to drive her from her position. Mallory Bagby, the attorney in question, submitted a detailed 22-page document to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission outlining her grievances.
According to the complaint, Bagby’s departure from city employment was the culmination of ongoing issues after she accused specific city leaders and elected officials of infringing on her civil rights. She identifies herself in the complaint as a white, heterosexual woman, and alleges this identity was a factor in her alleged mistreatment.
Central to her allegations are claims against Alderman Tim Kelly and the city’s civil rights director, Latrice Lacey. Bagby accuses Kelly of minimizing her through derogatory language, alleging he repeatedly called her “girl.” She also claims Lacey orchestrated a series of false complaints against her which contributed to a hostile work environment.
The tension escalated to the point where Bagby says she sought intervention from her supervisors but found herself placed on administrative leave instead. This series of events reportedly led to her coerced resignation last year.
Comments from an outside source, Jill Zwagerman, a lawyer specializing in civil rights cases in Des Moines, not affiliated with Bagby’s case, noted that claims of discrimination from individuals who are white and heterosexual such as Bagby are rare and less typical in legal circles. Zwagerman highlighted the general societal trend where, statistically, white people and heterosexuals face fewer workplace discrimination issues compared to minorities and those of other sexual orientations.
The dynamic is complicated further by a retaliatory lawsuit from Lacey, filed in December prior to Bagby’s complaint. Lacey’s lawsuit, in which Bagby is named, dates back grievances to 2018, alleging that she herself has faced discrimination. In a statement, Lacey dismissed Bagby’s allegations as “retaliatory and without merit,” suggesting that Bagby’s actions were intended to undermine her own legitimate discrimination claims and damage her reputation.
To date, Kelly has not made any public comment regarding the allegations against him. The city of Davenport, similarly, has been reserved in its responses and provided no comment when approached.
The filing of such a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission usually precedes legal action, likely indicating that Bagby might pursue a lawsuit against the city. However, these cases can typically extend over lengthy periods, sometimes up to a year, before potentially reaching court.
Bagby, through her attorney, declined to provide further comment on the situation, specifically after inquiries into how details of her complaint were obtained by the media.
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