Lawsuit Accuses Former MDOC Spokesman of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

Lisa Gass, an employee of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), has filed a lawsuit alleging that her former supervisor, Chris Gautz, repeatedly sexually harassed and coerced her into sexual acts shortly after she began working at the department in 2021. The lawsuit claims that Gautz sent Gass explicit videos, made frequent unwanted sexual comments, and pressured her into sex under the threat of jeopardizing her job. When Gass reported the alleged abuse, the MDOC is accused of retaliating against her by stripping her of job responsibilities and a planned pay increase, while allowing Gautz to resign quietly without facing disciplinary action. The lawsuit also names MDOC Director Heidi Washington, alleging that the department fostered a hostile work environment and failed to protect employees from harassment. These allegations echo a longstanding pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation claims within the MDOC. Gautz, who later worked for a public relations firm, has been placed on leave following the announcement of the lawsuit.