Former deputy prosecutor suing GC Prosecutor's Office

EPHRATA — A former deputy prosecutor is suing the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office and alleging she was paid less than her fellow male employees, despite having similar jobs, duties and responsibilities.

In Natalie Hoover’s complaint for damages, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Spokane on Monday, she alleges the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office “willfully” paid her less than her male coworkers. Hoover began working for the prosecutor’s office as a district/juvenile prosecutor in April 2015 with a base salary of $50,000.

The lawsuit states Hoover, who is now employed at Schultheis, Tabler & Wallace in Ephrata, and Prosecutor Garth Dano were aware that Hoover’s pay range for the position was between $59,009-$68,155 annually. Several other male attorneys were hired for the same position as Hoover, but the lawsuit states “these males had similar professional experience (as Hoover) upon their hire, and upon information and belief, they were paid significantly more.”

Dano was allegedly aware Hoover wasn’t being paid as much as her male counterparts, but the pay disparity wasn’t immediately corrected. The lawsuit states at some point Dano approached Hoover and told her “if she had an issue with her salary, she should come talk to him.”

In summer 2016 Hoover learned about a job opening at the prosecutor’s office for a starting salary of $59,000 a year. Hoover later learned her male colleagues were earning more than $59,000 and in July 2016 she says she approached Dano about the job opening. Dano allegedly “laughed” at Hoover and “demanded” to know why she should receive a salary bump. Hoover says she also confronted Dano about the pay disparity between herself and men in the office and asked for a pay increase.

“Mr. Dano informed Plaintiff (Hoover) that Hyrum Hemingway, a male colleague who performed substantially similar work, was purportedly offered a higher salary based on the salary he had received from his previous employer,” reads the lawsuit.

A tort claim that was filed by Hoover and her legal team, which was ultimately dismissed by the county, highlights several male attorneys whose starting salaries were thousands of dollars higher than what Hoover started out at. Hoover ultimately received a pay bump, but the lawsuit says the increase did not reflect from the date of her hire through July 27, 2016. She was later fired from the prosecutor’s office on May 17, 2017.

“Garth’s decision cost Grant County an excellent attorney and will cost taxpayers dearly after judgment is rendered,” Hoover’s employer, Nick Wallace, stated.

Hoover is asking the prosecutor’s office to pay for her attorney's fees and to pay for her unpaid wages and other damages.

“I had heard the rumor that Garth was a leader of the local ‘good ole boys club’ but I originally ignored it,” Hoover stated. “I hoped the pay discrepancy was an oversight on his part, but as soon as I asked him about it he became upset and defensive. I was stunned he would treat me differently than the men just because I am a woman.”

Hoover and her legal team believe they have a good chance of winning, especially in light of a recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in which judges ruled a man’s prior salary does not allow for paying him more than a woman for performing the same duties.

Dano was out of the office on Wednesday and not available to comment on the lawsuit.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.