Lawsuit Brought Against Roosevelt Island Operating Corp, RIOC President Shelton Haynes & General Counsel Gretchen Robinson By Fired RIOC Employees – Allegations Include Corruption, Misconduct, Fraud, Negligence, Cover Up and Workplace Retaliation For Whistleblower Complaints

On February 14, 2023, former Roosevelt Island Operating Corp ( RIOC ) employees Erica Spencer-El, Amy Smith and Jessica Cerrone commenced a lawsuit against RIOC, RIOC President Shelton Haynes, RIOC General Counsel Gretchen Robinson and others

alleging (Verified Complaint para 1 page 2):

… an action for illegal workplace retaliation caused by Defendants against Plaintiffs for their whistleblower complaints made to report corruption, misconduct, and violations of law made internally and later externally to the New York State Office of Inspector General and to the New York State Office of the State Comptroller. As a direct result of Plaintiffs good-faith whistleblower complaints each of the three Plaintiffs were improperly and impermissibly subjective to a hostile work environment before ultimately being terminated from RIOC in violation of, inter alia, New York Labor Law 740…

Allegations contained in the Verified Complaint included:

… 16. Specifically, the three plaintiffs in this action observed an increasingly reckless pattern of corruption, unethical conduct, and dangerous behavior coming from RIOCs leadership group and which peaked in the period of time when government mandated shutdowns due to COVID-19 began to lift in mid-2020….

… 17. Smith and Cerone, for their part, noticed operational concerns regarding the COVID-19 Rapid testing site on Roosevelt Island that opened in January 2021 known as Swift Emergency (Swift)….

… 19. Due to the Swift testing site receiving continuing special exemptions and priority
treatment from RIOC leadership and the lack of response received from internal complaints about
the issue, Smith and Spencer-ELs concerns about violations of law grew, and, on or about March
4, 2021, Spencer-EL formally submitted reports to the New York State Office of Inspector General and the New York State Comptrollers Office reflecting Plaintiffs legitimate concerns.

20. Spencer-ELs March 4, 2021, reports centered around RIOCs fraudulent purchasing activities related to COVID-19, and, in particular, Haynes and RIOC leaderships push for non-compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations concerning directives and actions being handed out regarding the Swift testing site….

… 23. In addition to the numerous internal complaints made to and ignored by Defendants by the Plaintiffs regarding policies and directives concerning the Swift Site and the Sportspark pool drowning, Smith also anonymously reported her concerns to the New York State Office of the Inspector General.

24. In her report to the Inspector General, Smith i) outlined her previous concerns with the COVID-19 testing site, ii) explained that she saw video footage of the Sportspark downing and that the drowning was a result of negligence arising under Haynes and Jacksons supervision and direction, and iii) expressed how she was asked to operate in a way that was aiding in nefarious matters, covering up wrong-doings, or having to feel bullied and harassed into supporting improper conduct and/or misconduct being perpetrated by leadership or the Executive Team….

… 119. In her report to the Inspector General, Smith outlined her concerns with the
COVID-19 testing site, as well as the drowning at Sportspark Pool. Furthermore, Smith also
specifically named Jackson, Robinson, and Sharpe, explaining that she felt that Haynes was
engaged in fraud with the testing site and that the drowning was a direct result of negligence under
Haynes and Jacksons supervision and direction. Smith also expressed how she was asked to
operate in a way that was aiding in nefarious matters, covering up wrong-doings, or having to feel
bullied and harassed into supporting improper conduct and/or misconduct being perpetrated by the
executive team”….

Earlier today, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Communications Vice President Akeem Jamal:

Does RIOC have any comment on the “Whistleblower” lawsuit brought by former RIOC employees Erica Spencer-El, Amy Smith and Jessica Cerrone?

Specifically, does RIOC have any comment on the allegations regarding:

• The
  alleged cover up of the Sportspark drowning incident, including
  instructions to RIOC employees not to put anything in writing about the
  incident?
• The special treatment received by Swift Emergency in
  setting up the Roosevelt Island Covid Test site and the undisclosed
  personal relationship between the Swift owner and Shelton Haynes
• the employees were fired by RIOC as retaliation for their complaints to the NY State Inspector General.
• any other comment you wish to make on the subject.

I plan on publishing an article about the lawsuit today so please let me know if you will comment.

There has been no response from RIOC.

Read the entire Verified Complaint.

Stay tuned.