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December 6, 2023
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM MARIA CHAPELLE-NADAL ABOUT SETTLEMENT WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY
The two years that I worked for St. Louis County (November 12, 2020 to August 22, 2022) as a legislative assistant were marked with dehumanizing treatment by Councilwoman Rita Heard Days. Not only was I subject to regular humiliation, harassment and retaliation, but I was denied protections provided under the First Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I also was inappropriately tasked with campaign work to support Days’ re-election during my work hours paid for by public resources.
The conditions were so bad that my mental health disabilities were exacerbated requiring accommodations that were advised by my doctor. After months of appealing for my rights under the ADA, I was terminated without an immediate explanation on August 22, 2022.
To take a stand for myself and others who face abusive work environments and discrimination because of mental health impairments, in February 2023 I filed a claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for violations of the ADA, Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) and also the First, Eighth and 14th Amendments.
It has been publicly reported that I very recently reached a settlement agreement with a third-party mediator on the eight counts of the claim: Disability Discrimination, Failure to Accommodate, Retaliation (ADA), Retaliation (MHRA), Hostile Work Environment, Deprivation of the Right to Free Speech, Failure to Train and/or Supervise and Civil Conspiracy in Furtherance of Violations of the First Amendment.
Days’ comments to the media about my firing and the settlement have not conveyed the extent of the claims. The egregious treatment and violations I faced should not be allowed to exist in silence, especially at a workplace our taxpayers provide for their public servants and government workers.
Her harassment continues with false representations about my work performance, undermining the reputation of my more than 20-year track record of dedicated public service. The truth needs to come to light for change.
First Amendment Violations I came to this position involved in active public interest matters including criminal justice reform, radioactive waste contamination and the Ferguson uprising. While in this position, my cousin, Isis Mahr, was killed at just 19 years old by Jalin Jefferson. My First Amendment right to speak out about this tragedy on my own time was suppressed. Days has stated publicly that she opposed me speaking out about my cousin's murder and even asked me to pause on posting statements about the murder case and Wesely Bell’s failures within days of his critical budget hearing. Days herself told a reporter this week that she terminated me for my public statements.
Campaigning Using Public Resources I was tasked with campaign work as part of my role and during work hours such as fundraising, campaign-driven newsletters, campaign-driven email outreach, putting lists together and making lists of bills for campaign platforms and positions. I was expected, as part of my job, to attend an after-hours campaign meeting. I also regularly was in close proximity to campaign and campaign fundraising conversations between Days and other staff and council members that should not have been occurring during the work day.
Humiliation Days systematically exerted control in a way you would expect of an elementary school student. She forced me to ask for permission to use the bathroom or go outside for my lunch or other breaks. Many exchanges are documented in texts and audio including one in which she texted “Where are you? Please stop by my office.” When I responded “Went to bathroom and outside” she texted back “Not allowed!!!” She also forced me to ask for permission to go to the doctor in an emergency. She also taunted me, including during professional meetings and in the press. In one incident, she threw a crumpled ball of paper toward the trashcan but it landed on the floor. Like a schoolyard bully, she stared at me expecting me to pick it up.
To this day, she tries to belittle me by telling the St. Louis Post Dispatch “she did not have a job leaving the Legislature, and I did not want her to be without a job” when, in fact, while we sat in my living room, she begged me to come to work for her. I even left my elected position early to do so.
Harassment Some of the treatment included harassment, including stalking my office area, stating I was not Black enough, calling at all times — weekends, holidays and off hours — and also sexual harassment.
Retaliation The conditions worsened and retaliation ensued after I had ADA accommodations in place as recommended by my doctor for diagnosed mental health disabilities, which were exacerbated as a result of these conditions.
Days’ continuing gaslighting includes public statements that I was barely coming into the office at a time when all employees were working hybrid schedules because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, my hybrid schedule, though similar to other workers, was also included in my ADA accommodations. Her continuing this narrative shows that she has not learned through this experience about the rights people have through ADA. I fear for how this will impact other employees.
I did not disclose the existence of my claims or this settlement to the media first. I can only imagine someone closely tied to this case would like to control the narrative to attack my professional track record and draw attention away from more abusive issues in play.
When Ms. Days was terminated from the St. Louis Board of Elections for various failures under her leadership, which all became public, I supported her with kindness. So this public display of aggression, falsehoods and diversion from seven other charges she settled is interesting to say the least.
During my time working for St. Louis County, I requested that the staff be provided with harassment training yet there was never any follow-up to this request from Ms. Valenti, Council Administrative Director and St. Louis County Clerk. This training should be mandated for every public employee. Ms. Days has had legislation sitting on the Council calendar for over a year addressing harassment and whistleblower protections and training. St. Louis County would do better to invest in programs that would benefit the entire workforce versus pay more money for discriminatory behavior. It would be a good idea for Ms. Days to take the first step by starting to attend to her untouched legislation on the calendar.
— Maria Chappelle-Nadal
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MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Brown rbrown@synergy-pr.com (O) 314-266-7035 (C) 314-210-4419
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