The Maine Human Rights Commission on Nov. 24 voted to accept investigators’ recommended findings and found no reasonable grounds to believe the University of Southern Maine unlawfully discriminated against a former dispatcher in cases consolidated as E230399 and E230400.

Complainant “Miss Partridge” told the panel she had provided documents she said showed disability discrimination and a hostile work environment, including requests for workplace aids and repeated denials of accommodations. “I have provided evidence of discrimination for disability on the continued rejection of near desperate attempts of support and functional equipment,” she said during her presentation.

University counsel Lisa Landry, associate general counsel for the University of Maine System, told commissioners the record lacked evidence supporting claims of race, color, age or retaliation and said the university had documented legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for the termination. “There is no evidence to support the complainant's allegations,” Landry said, adding that the final leave request would have posed an undue administrative and financial burden on public safety.

Investigator Nubra Leiva told the commission she reviewed interviews and documents and reported that evidence in the record showed the complainant worked for Bates College during a period she had described as medical leave from USM, and that the two jobs’ duties were substantially similar. Leiva stood by her finding and answered commissioners’ technical questions about dates in her report.

After questions and brief discussion, the commission voted to adopt the investigator’s recommendations and will send letters to the parties confirming the result. The panel’s decision means the cases end with findings of no reasonable grounds; commissioners and staff said they will transmit the formal notices to the parties and counsel.

The commission’s action closes the public hearing phase on these matters; the parties may pursue other administrative or judicial options available under state law.