Fired Over a Spouse’s Forehead Kiss? Nurse Sues Jail for Gender Discrimination
A lawsuit filed by Emma Conville, LPN, a nurse from Pottsville, brings some tough realities about workplace relationships and gender discrimination into the spotlight, especially for nurses working in correctional healthcare settings.
Conville, who was promoted to Assistant Director of Nursing at Northumberland County Jail in 2022 and later worked as a STARS traveling nurse for PrimeCare Medical, claims in a federal complaint that she was unfairly fired because of sex discrimination after two brief interactions involving her significant other, correctional officer Logan Reynolds, at the same facility.
According to the lawsuit, Reynolds kissed Conville on the forehead twice while they were in the jail’s medical unit in August 2023, and the complaint emphasizes that the kisses occurred “without any prompting from, solicitation by, or other participation from” her.
The complaint alleges that the jail revoked Conville’s security clearance without explanation effective August 10, 2023, and that PrimeCare terminated her that same day based on the lost clearance, even though she still held clearances to work at other correctional facilities.
A Kiss, A Termination, and a Double Standard
The incident that sparked this legal battle took place on August 8 and 9, 2023. According to the complaint, Reynolds kissed Conville on the forehead twice while they were in the jail’s medical unit, and the filing stresses that the kisses were “without any prompting from, solicitation by, or other participation from” Conville. Conville also states that she was married to someone other than Reynolds at the time, while Reynolds was unmarried.
The lawsuit alleges that on August 9, Deputy Warden Margaret Hughes told a PrimeCare supervisor that Conville’s security clearance at Northumberland County Jail would be revoked effective August 10, 2023. On August 10, the jail revoked her clearance without giving her any reason, and PrimeCare terminated her employment that same day because of the lost clearance, despite her active clearances at other PrimeCare‑contracted facilities.
Here’s where things get murkier: the complaint further claims that Reynolds was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, received an internal hearing with his union representative present, and ultimately retained both his security clearance and his job at the jail. This alleged difference in treatment between Conville and Reynolds is at the heart of her sex discrimination and equal‑protection claims.
For the harm she says she has suffered, Conville is asking the court to award her lost compensation and benefits in excess of $75,000, plus damages for emotional distress and reputational harm, punitive damages against PrimeCare and Northumberland County, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
Occupational healthcare roles can be tough jobs with unique challenges, and this case shines a spotlight on the differences in what those challenges can look like for different genders in the workplace.
For instance, a 2019 paper in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health found notable sex‑ and gender‑role–based differences in occupational exposures and outcomes for correctional nurses, including differences in bullying exposure, burnout, and injury patterns, with some elevated risks reported among female nurses.
Not all nurses work in correctional facilities, of course, but for nurses, this case can guide a few key reminders:
- Know Your Workplace Policies: Whether it’s about relationships, security clearances, or disciplinary actions, understanding the rules can protect you.
- Document Everything: Keep records of workplace interactions, especially if you think something might come back to become an issue.
- Speak Up: If you feel you’re being treated unfairly, don’t wait. Advocate for yourself and know your rights.
Conville’s lawsuit isn’t just about her; it’s also about setting a precedent and potentially exposing gender discrimination for nurses who work in correctional facilities.
Nurses are used to juggling a million responsibilities, but they shouldn’t have to juggle discrimination and unfair treatment, too. So, whether you’re in a correctional setting or a cozy clinic, take a lesson from this case: protect yourself and know your worth. And maybe, just maybe, avoid forehead kisses at work.
