Report of Open-Mouthed Kiss Gets Peace Officer Retaliation Trial

A Georgia sheriff’s office must face a job retaliation claim by a female former peace officer because her report that a male co-worker kissed her without permission could be protected activity under federal sexual harassment law given their respective ranks, the Eleventh Circuit ruled Monday.

A lower court mistakenly decided that a jury couldn’t find that Laura Alkins reasonably believed Jon Spear’s alleged kiss violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a unanimous appeals panel said.

Alkins only needed a good-faith belief that Spear’s alleged action amounted to workplace harassment—that the situation was “close enough” that she reasonably ...