A jury did not award any damages Monday to former legislative aide Laura Hanson, finding that her boss, state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, and the Oregon Legislature did not retaliate against her due to her disability.

The unanimous verdict by seven jurors followed a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Portland. One of the original eight jurors was dismissed during trial for not following a judge’s order to not discuss the case during trial.

Attorney Marc Abrams, representing Gelser Blouin and state lawmakers, argued that Hanson was fired in October 2020 because she was unable to do her job in the Legislature’s fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Hanson had alleged that Gelser Blouin terminated her after Hanson had complained that the senator created a “toxic and hostile” environment in the office and after she sought a mental health day following diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

But Abrams told jurors that the firing came nearly a year after the “toxic” remark and was solely due to Hanson’s repeated errors and inability to complete assignments.

Gelser Blouin reported to human resources Hanson’s concerns about a toxic environment in her office, which led to an investigation and Hanson being placed on paid leave for 10 months, from January 2020 until her firing in October 2020, according to court testimony. Gelser Blouin couldn’t be placed on leave as an elected official under the state Constitution, her lawyer argued in closing.

Hanson’s lawyer, Rebecca Cambrelang, criticized the state’s policy on harassment, retaliation and discrimination, arguing that it targets the employees who make complaints by subjecting them to public and “invasive” investigations and hearings.

The Legislature has since altered the policy, known as Rule 27. Under the changes, Gelser Blouin would not have been required to report an allegation against herself, and the employee making the complaint would have more input on whether an investigation would proceed.

The human resources investigation by an outside lawyer found the state senator had not retaliated against Hanson.

“Ms. Hanson was the guinea pig for this Rule 27 investigative process,” Cambrelang argued in her closing. She felt like she was the “subject” of the investigation and didn’t want her personal information to be made public, Cambrelang said.

Hanson’s disabilities and her request for accommodation played a substantial role in her firing, Cambrelang argued. She had urged the jury to award $250,000 in damages for her client’s emotional distress, damage to reputation and public humiliation.

Yet the jury rejected each of Hanson’s claims that the state senator and the Legislature retaliated against her for whistleblowing, that they had failed to accommodate her disability and that they had discriminated against her due to her disabilities.

Hanson was rehired in December 2022 to work for state Rep. Khanh Pham, D-Portland. She said she immediately told her supervisors of her attention deficit disorder and asked for accommodations, seeking clear, written assignments and descriptions of her role.

But according to the state’s lawyer, Hanson immediately clashed with her supervisors, was late for work, didn’t complete work assignments and tried to take over job duties she wasn’t assigned. She was fired again three weeks after she started on Jan. 25, 2023.

“While we are disappointed in the outcome, we thank the jury for their service and believe justice will prevail. We believe people with disabilities should be treated fairly in the workplace, and we won’t stop fighting for the rights of employees,” said Cambreleng and her legal partner, attorney Meredith A. Holley, in an email.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon will decide on a separate claim Hanson made against the state, alleging it violated the Oregon’s Family Leave Act. He asked both sides to submit additional briefs.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

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