Belleville Library Settles Discrimination Lawsuit With Pregnant Worker

Belleville township and library officials have agreed to settle a female worker’s discrimination lawsuit in exchange for a promotion, a year’s back pay at $16.57 per hour and $5,500 in legal fees.

According to court documents, Angela Gionio-Kistner – a part-time library monitor since 2011 – claimed that the board members of the Belleville Public Library illegally denied her promotion to library assistant because they wanted to avoid health care costs related to her pregnancy.

Gionio-Kistner also claimed that board members inappropriately discussed her possible promotion during the public portion of a 2014 board meeting.

In the settlement agreement, township and library officials denied all of Gionio-Kistner’s allegations.

See the full civil action and settlement agreement here.