Robin Chaia Mide worked for four years as the executive director of Brattleboro Community Television (BCTV), which operates two community access stations, Channel 8 and Channel 10. That is, she ran the operation until July, 2003, when she was fired. According to her lawyer, Norman Watts, she was fired because she's a lesbian. And now she has filed a lawsuit in Windham Superior Court against BCTV for discrimination, among other charges.
      John Mabie is the lawyer for BCTV. According to court documents, the station's board of directors denies any wrongdoing in Mide's firing. Mide's suit alleges wrongful termination, breach of good faith and fair dealing, intentional and reckless infliction of emotional distress, discrimination based on sexual orientation, and retaliatory discharge. Her lawyer says he has never seen such blatant discrimination in 20 years of employment law practice.
      Mabie's response on the board's behalf alleges that Mide did not perform her duties, missed applying for an Adelphia Communications grant, and "mismanaged" $8500 in funds.
      Both parties are requesting a jury trial, damages and attorneys' fees.
      Mide was working without a contract when she was fired; her contract had expired the month before. According to court documents, she continued to work under a verbal agreement with the BCTV board that a new contract was being drafted.
      The complaint says that Mide was "subjected to insulting, harassing, embarrassing, intimidating and humiliating treatment," even though the station's code of conduct prohibits such behavior.
      Among other allegations, the complaint says that one representative of the station referred to a heterosexual woman as a "real woman."
      Watts, the lawyer for Mide, said that Mide's case is "the most blatant experience of conduct hostile to a person for membership in any group, much less for sexual orientation" that he's seen in his 15 years of labor law practice. He has, he said, worked with cases involving "pregnant women, men, older workers, and in every case the defendant denies there's discrimination involved, just as the bigots in the South did" during the black civil rights struggles.
      Asked why Mide had chosen not to take her complaint to the state Human Rights Commission, Watts said, "I'm sure she felt that a direct civil action is quicker and equally effective. They do an excellent job, but they are understaffed and underfunded."
     The trial date has not yet been set, and when it is, it will allow time for the discovery process and an opportunity for mediation. If mediation fails, the case will go to trial, likely in about a year.
      Watts added that he is "looking forward to going before a jury. It's the great leveler, and it's a thrill for me. But most important is that Robin is able to receive justice. She has been severely disadvantaged. This is ugly stuff."
      Watts declined to make his client available for comment. "I prefer that my clients don't talk to the press before trial," he said.