The Hobart Township trustee’s office is under fresh scrutiny as two former employees say they are taking their complaints to federal court, accusing township leadership of sexual harassment, retaliation and discrimination.
Former staffers Dianna Brooks and Kendra Krebs, represented by Crown Point attorney Robin Remley, told reporters they plan to file their lawsuits Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Their complaints are expected to name Township Trustee Fred Williams and Hobart Township as defendants and to outline what they describe as a hostile work environment and retaliation after they reported misconduct, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Court records show Brooks has also filed a separate state case claiming unpaid vacation and sick time, and Remley said a related charge has already been submitted to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
Local timing and officials named
The public unveiling of the planned lawsuits comes just as early voting is set to begin for local primaries that include the Hobart Township trustee race, a calendar detail Remley noted at the news conference. The Lake County public officials directory lists Fred Williams as the current Hobart Township trustee and provides contact and election information for the office as part of the county’s local government records.
Legal paths and oversight
Remley said the federal complaints may include civil rights causes of action along with claims under Indiana's whistleblower law. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission handles employment discrimination complaints, offering options such as mediation and formal investigations, while any federal case would move through the civil docket of the Northern District of Indiana. More information about those processes is available from the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Northern District of Indiana.
What’s next
Once filed, the lawsuits will trigger deadlines for responses from the defendants and could lead to early hearings, with the possibility that the complaints are amended as related administrative reviews move forward. FOX 32 Chicago reported that it reached out to Trustee Williams and other township officials for comment but had not received a response as of publication.
