Senator calls for MVC director's resignation

Larry Kay listens to Judge Jon Beetem at the opening of a lawsuit in which he is the defendant. The case of Pat Rowe Kerr vs. Larry Kay in Cole County Circuit Court started Monday and could last up to two weeks.
Larry Kay listens to Judge Jon Beetem at the opening of a lawsuit in which he is the defendant. The case of Pat Rowe Kerr vs. Larry Kay in Cole County Circuit Court started Monday and could last up to two weeks.

A state senator is calling for the resignation of the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) director following Thursday's verdict in an age and gender discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former MVC employee.

On Friday, Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, called for MVC Director Larry Kay to step down in the wake of a $2.875 million jury verdict.

On Thursday, Cole County jurors awarded $1.3 million in actual damages and $1.575 million in punitive damages to former outreach director Pat Rowe Kerr, who was dismissed in November 2009. She sued the state agency in July 2011, claiming discrimination and harassment over her dismissal.

Kay and the commission had said her dismissal was due to budget cuts at the time.

"The Missouri Veterans Commission cannot continue discrimination or harassment," Sifton said in a press release. "The commission's employees provide vital services to our veterans. They need and deserve a work environment free from the kind of hostility the jury found occurred."

Sifton added: "The person heading the Missouri Veterans Commission needs to be fair-minded and focused on the needs of veterans. I do not see how Larry Kay can continue to lead this important agency in light of the jury's decision."

Spokespersons for both the MVC and the Missouri attorney general's office, which represented Kay and the commission in the lawsuit, declined to comment on Sifton's statements.

Previous coverage:

Kerr wins discrimination suit against Veterans Commission, July 22, 2016

Kay back on stand to defend actions, July 21, 2016

Kerr-Kay trial ends seventh day, July 20, 2016

Kerr's lawyers rest case; defense testimony begins, July 19, 2016

Kay defends termination of Kerr, July 15, 2016

Budget constraints questioned during Kerr trial, July 14, 2016

Kerr testifies as trial continues, July 13, 2016

Kerr's harassment suit spills into court, July 12, 2016

Pat Rowe-Kerr sues Veterans Commission, Kay on several issues, July 26, 2011