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Suit Alleges 'Abuse of Power,' Gender Discrimination by Merrimack County Attorney

Dan Tuohy / NHPR

A former sexual assault investigator is suing the Merrimack County Attorney, alleging she created a hostile work environment.

Jennifer Adams filed a civil suit on Wednesday in Superior Court, naming both Robin Davis, who was elected county attorney as a write-in candidate last year, as well as Merrimack County as defendants.

“This case is about an abuse of power,” reads the opening lines of the lawsuit, as well as an attempt to “humiliate” Adams in her place of work.

The 31-page suit lays out a series of events in which Adams, who worked with local police departments to investigate sexual assault crimes, alleges Davis carried out a campaign of intimidation, as well as gender discrimination. 

The lawsuit also cites a report completed by an outside consultant on workplace conditions within the county attorney’s office which found Davis went “beyond what is generally acceptable workplace conduct” when expressing displeasure with employee performance.  

Adams has been on leave since June, citing emotional distress. Her suit is seeking back wages as well as monetary damages. 

Davis declined to comment on the suit. 

Todd started as a news correspondent with NHPR in 2009. He spent nearly a decade in the non-profit world, working with international development agencies and anti-poverty groups. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University.
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