Attorneys for Corrections Corp of America harasses Arizona State Senate Candidate

Feb. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Mesa, AZ February 18, 2010 – Arizona State Senate Candidate and Anti-Private Prison Advocate Robert Hernandez McDonald Jr., has accused Jones, Skelton and Hochuli attorneys Barry Uhrman and Kathleen Wieneke who represent Corrections Corporation of America of harassment, intimidation and working in bad faith to settle a federal lawsuit that was initially filed in September 2008.  
The issues of the lawsuit surround the wrongful termination by Corrections Corporation of America of Mr. McDonald who was hired in 2006 as a Correctional Officer at the Florence Correctional Center. Also in the complaint were charges of discrimination and violations of Mr. McDonald’s civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. McDonald who was diagnosed with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder in mid 2006 was able to do his job to the best of his ability because he was taking medication to correct the disorder. Mr. McDonald was told by a supervisor that he was a security threat to the institution because of his disability. Mr. McDonald was also called a less than stellar employee by an assistant warden again because of his disability.
Jones, Skelton and Hochuli were retained by Corrections Corporation of America to defend this lawsuit as well as several others filed in Arizona. Mr. McDonald retained Ms. Tamra Facciola of Tempe, who is a partner of Eckert and Facciola and is a Professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2007, to represents him in this lawsuit.
Mr. McDonald came out today to accuse Jones, Skelton and Hochuli attorneys Barry Uhrman and Kathleen Wieneke of harassment, intimidation and working in bad faith to settle this federal lawsuit. In January 2010; Mr. McDonald attended a deposition hearing that was held over two days. Mr. McDonald contends that during the deposition the majority of the questions had nothing to do with the lawsuit and that Ms. Wieneke was using this opportunity to attack Mr. McDonald instead of focusing on the substance of the lawsuit. Ms. Facciola also believes that Ms. Wieneke was using that circumstance to attack Mr. McDonald’s credibility and disability. Mr. McDonald also contends that Mr. Uhrman is trying to intimidate and harass the Plaintiff into withdrawing the lawsuit. Several times over the preceding two years, Mr. Urhman requested documentation and releases that had nothing to do with lawsuit. Most recently, Mr. Urhman sent an email to Ms. Facciola threatening to go to a federal magistrate to complain that Mr. McDonald has refused to send some educational releases. Mr. McDonald contends that he sent the releases five weeks ago when he sent his Arizona Clean Elections Commission paperwork. Mr. McDonald has refused to send a second copy because he has in good faith sent the initial request five weeks ago.
Since the lawsuits inception, Mr. McDonald through his attorney has been trying to secure a settlement or enter into negotiation for a settlement. Corrections Corporation of America through their attorneys Jones, Skelton and Hochuli have refused to consider or entertain an offer of settlement. During an Arizona Civil Rights Division and an EEOC investigation, Corrections Corporation of America was given several opportunities for reconciliation but refused.
Mr. McDonald hopes for to have this resolved soon.