SUGAR LAND, Texas – Former employees of Fort Bend Precinct 2 Constable Daryl Smith, Sr., are accusing him of creating a hostile work environment that put officers at risk. The lawsuit, filed in November, alleges inappropriate contact and gender-based favoritism by Smith, and claims that Fort Bend County officials did not protect the complainants.
According to the lawsuit, Smith, who denies the allegations, favored female employees who welcomed his advances and retaliated against those who did not and complained. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Smith promoted unqualified individuals to positions of authority, which jeopardized the safety of deputies. The plaintiffs state that male employees were discriminated against by receiving less desirable positions compared to their female counterparts.
The lawsuit also claims that Smith promoted female employees, who were allegedly his “girlfriends,” to positions they were not qualified for. Furthermore, female plaintiffs accuse Smith of engaging in a pattern of unwanted sexual advances and sexual assaults.
When the former employees reported their concerns to the Fort Bend County human resources department, Smith allegedly retaliated against them, leading to their termination. The lawsuit asserts that the county failed to protect the employees from this retaliation.
In response to the allegations, the county has denied them, with their defense based on qualified immunity and other procedural matters. The county refrained from providing further comments, citing the ongoing litigation.
Smith, who is seeking re-election in the March 5 Democratic primary, claims the allegations are false and politically motivated. He asserts that he was previously cleared by a grand jury and that investigations by multiple agencies found the allegations to be untrue.
The case is pending, and no court date has been set. The plaintiffs are demanding preservation of relevant evidence, as well as unspecified damages, front pay, and attorney’s fees.
In summary, former employees of Fort Bend Precinct 2 Constable Daryl Smith, Sr., have accused him of creating a hostile work environment through inappropriate contact and gender-based favoritism. The plaintiffs claim that Smith retaliated against those who did not welcome his advances and promoted unqualified individuals to positions of authority. Smith denies the allegations and states that they are politically motivated. The county has denied the claims and declined to comment further. The case remains ongoing, with no court date set.