‘All in a Day’s Work’ at HUD

“Cupcakes embedded with nails served at an office potluck. A formal investigation launched after an employee posted her probation notice in the office restrooms.” These are some of the descriptions written by the judge issuing this decision which he referred to as “all in a day’s work” at the General Counsel’s office at HUD.

A decision just issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia doesn’t look good for the General Counsel’s office at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Just read the very first paragraph written by Judge Cooper, and, if intrigued, read his entire opinion (document below) that denies in part HUD’s motion for summary judgment, sending the case on to trial:

Cupcakes embedded with nails served at an office potluck. A fake transfer order dangled as bait to catch a suspected computer hacker. A formal investigation launched after an employee posted her probation notice in the office restrooms. Sexual harassment allegations levelled against a sight-impaired supervisor’s female reader. Plotlines from a low-budget telenovela? Sadly not. All in a day’s work, it would seem, in the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”).

Roman v. HUD (12-cv-01321)

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.