Former city health commissioner, Dr. Pat McManus, angry she wasn’t told of settlement of suit against her and city by former staffer
By Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
Former Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner Dr. Patricia McManus wants to know why she wasn’t notified of a settlement of a lawsuit against the city by a former department staffer who accused McManus of racial harassment.
The former staffer, Angela Hagy—who is White—filed the lawsuit against McManus during her tenure as health commissioner (February to September of 2018).
McManus was sworn in as health commissioner several weeks after Bevan Baker resigned over revelations of failures in the childhood lead poisoning prevention program.
In the lawsuit, Hagy—who was director of disease control and environmental health with the department, which included oversight of the lead poisoning prevention program—claimed McManus gave preferential treatment to Black MHD staffers and removed her from being the manager of the lead abatement program, and disciplined her because she was White.
In a recent interview, McManus claimed she knew nothing of the settlement until a supporter of the organization McManus runs, Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, called to inform her of what happened, having read about the settlement on a local online news service site.
“I really didn’t expect this! I was shocked!” said McManus, who had been told by the City Attorney’s office that they were prepared to fight Hagy’s lawsuit.
Normally, racial bias cases brought by African American city employees against their White co-workers or supervisors languish seemingly forever before they are acted upon.
However, the lawsuit brought against McManus by Hagy was expedited quickly and resolved.
McManus was surprised the city would settle seemingly without a fight by its attorneys, and that the Common Council was so willing to approve the settlement. “I’m going to find out if I had a right to give my side,” the former commissioner said. “I’m going to fight it.”
Recently the Common Council—on the recommendation of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee—approved the settlement. Hagy was awarded $30,000.
Ironically, the settlement was agreed upon before the April 7 election. Long-time City Attorney Grant Langley lost his reelection bid to Tearman Spencer.
In what may have been one of his last decisions as city attorney, Langley recommended the city settle Hagy’s claim.
The Council’s vote to settle the suit almost went along racial lines with the majority of White alderpersons (with the exception of Ald. Michael Murphy) voting to settle; and the majority of African American alderpersons (with the exception of Cavalier Johnson, who was elected by Common Council members president Tuesday—also along racial lines) voting to reject it.
Ald. Russell Stamper, II wanted to delay the vote until after Spencer was sworn in and he could review the case.
But what disturbed McManus the most was that no one from Mayor Tom Barrett’s office, nor Black Council members, called to inform her before-hand that Hagy’s lawsuit would be heard and decided.
Of the Black council members who didn’t call that McManus is particularly upset with are Council President Ashanti Hamilton—who wanted and persuaded McManus to be health commissioner—and Ald. Khalif Rainey, who represents the district where McManus lives.
McManus said she and her attorney, James Hall, will be sending a letter to the City Attorney’s office demanding an explanation as to why she was not informed about the settlement or interviewed regarding the case.
“I thought the city was going to fight the suit,” McManus claimed. “How can they do this and not tell me or give me a chance to give my side.
“This affects my reputation,” McManus continued. “I’m not a racist. I can work with anybody.”
McManus described Hagy as “very manipulative,” with a need to control whatever she does, and will do whatever it takes to maintain that control.
In dealing with Hagy, the former health commissioner also learned she had a propensity to file complaints against other staffers who would question her whenever she would get facts wrong or misspeak on data.
During her tenure with the health department, Hagy was in charge of the Keenan Sexual Health Clinic, located at 3200 N. 36th Street. McManus revealed Hagy—and those who worked under her—ran the clinic “like it was their own little company or independent entity.”
McManus said she took disciplinary action against Hagy when she abruptly closed the Keenan Clinic after McManus discovered one of the nurses did not have the proper licensing/credentials to conduct certain examinations or training.
McManus stressed only the health commissioner can close a clinic.
McManus believes Hagy is upset that she has the discipline measure in her file; and wondered how Hagy got what she called a “glowing recommendation” for the job she now has in Tarrant County, Texas where she is the deputy director of public health.
McManus theorized Hagy has problems dealing with Black people who are equal or higher in status than she.
“She probably made sure she’s at a department with very view—if any—Black people,” she said.
Source for this story:UrbanMilwaukee.com