Fieger To File Complaint Over $21 Million Verdict
Woman Claims Coworkers Left Explicit Cartoons, Photos Near Locker
August 2004
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, who saw a $21 million sexual harassment verdict he won against DaimlerChrysler AG overturned last week by the Michigan Supreme Court, announced Wednesday his intent to file with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission a complaint against four members of the court.During a news conference held at his law offices in Southfield, Fieger accused state Supreme Court justices Maura Corrigan, Clifford Taylor, Robert Young Jr. and Stephen Markman of taking away the rights of Michigan residents to sue. Fieger also accused the four justices of having a personal vendetta against him.
"It's just gotten to be too much when we have a Supreme Court that's gutting the rights of women," Fieger said. "Something has to be done."
The justices declined to comment, especially without seeing the complaint, Supreme Court spokeswoman Marcia McBrien said.
"It is certainly not the first time and certainly won't be the last that a person who's unhappy with a case has filed a grievance against a judge," McBrien said.
Also at the news conference, state Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, announced legislation that would change the state's Civil Rights Act to better protect women in the workplace.
The Michigan Supreme Court overturned the large verdict won by Linda Gilbert against DaimlerChrysler AG because the justices said it was excessive.
Gilbert said her male co-workers at Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit called her cruel names and left sexually explicit cartoons and photos on and near her locker. The automaker said Gilbert didn't disclose a number of allegations until after she filed a lawsuit and the company did all it could with the knowledge it had.
Once a person files a complaint against a judge, the Judicial Tenure Commission begins an investigation, which can take up to six months to complete, Executive Director Paul Fischer said.
If the commission determines the accusations are warranted, it then files a formal complaint.
The Michigan Supreme Court has the final say on whether to take action. In this case, it's unclear how the court would handle a formal complaint against four of its own members, Fischer said.