Personnel change at OSDH after lawsuit names certain personnel

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A sudden personnel change for the Oklahoma State Department of Health came last week, weeks after a lawsuit was filed aimed at the department.

"It's psychological torment," said Blair Hollaway of Blair Law.

Hollaway is representing a former employee at the department who is making the allegations.

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Latrina Frazier, who was the Deputy Commissioner at OSDH, essentially hired people who attended her church and gave preferential treatment to them. His client is Kathryn Stagner, who worked for the department for several years; she is alleging wrongful discrimination.

Dr. Frazier was suddenly removed from the Deputy Commissioner position overseeing Quality Assurance and Regulatory last week.

"I have concluded that I think there is a large amount of religious-based discrimination going on within the department of long-term care, specifically. But it's my understanding that the discrimination going on within the health dept. as a whole has also included age-based discrimination," said Hollaway.

Hollaway said that they brought in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate the department. He said that the department had said that the investigator was biased and didn't answer questions.

"She filed an EEOC complaint," said Hollaway. "The actions they have taken over the past several months are issues that are yet to be litigated."

"It's going to cost taxpayers," said Hollaway.

The department removed Dr. Frazier's name from their organizational chart on Friday. News 4 saw that and reached out to figure out why Dr. Frazier had worked for the department for several years.

The department was asked why she was removed and replaced with an interim. News 4 also asked if it had anything to do with either the lawsuit or the allegations of a toxic work environment.

The department spokesperson said that it was a "personnel change" and denied the connection between the lawsuit and the personnel move.

The department sent this quote:"

The July 31 personnel move was part of the ongoing evolution of the agency, adapting to an ever-changing government health landscape. We greatly appreciate Dr. Frazier’s service to this organization and wish her the best of luck moving forward.

As for the former employee’s lawsuit that was served on August 1, the agency had no prior knowledge of it, and it is in no way connected to the personnel change. The employee in question left OSDH more than two years ago."

Hollaway said they hadn't served the department yet regarding the lawsuit.

News 4 also reached out to Dr. Frazier several times on Wednesday to find out through her why her position was "changed."

Hollaway argued that the work/hiring environment at the department is worse than what the lawsuit claims.

"Former employees who have called me and contacted me, and they have what they have described to me is a horror show," said Hollaway.

The lawsuit was filed on July 23rd.