A federal appeals court has handed down a decisive blow to a former psychologist at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, upholding a lower court’s decision to dismiss her claims of sex bias and retaliation.
Court’s Ruling: No Evidence of Gender Bias
In a unanimous ruling, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the summary judgment in favor of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), stating that Emily Dixon, who worked at the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, failed to provide adequate evidence to support her allegations of discrimination. Dixon, who resigned in 2023, claimed that her male supervisor fostered inappropriate “dependency relationships” with female colleagues, while offering favorable treatment to male staff members.
However, the three-judge panel pointed out that Dixon’s claims were based on broad, unsupported statements. According to the court, she could not identify a male colleague who received better treatment or pay raises than she did, which undermined her allegations of sex bias.
Allegations of Supervisor Misconduct
Dixon’s 2022 lawsuit outlined a pattern of alleged harassment and favoritism. She accused her supervisor of inviting her to dinner alone, attempting to form close, personal relationships with other female psychologists, and giving preferential treatment to female staff. She also argued that while some female employees received pay raises, she was overlooked.
