A second lawsuit has been filed against the City of Duluth, alleging retaliation and discrimination after a city employee reported alleged officer misconduct within the police department.
The lawsuit claims Jessica McCarthy-Nickila faced unlawful discrimination and retaliation after she reported concerns about conduct within the Duluth Police Department, according to the complaint.
The complaint says McCarthy-Nickila, a program coordinator who did opioid response work, reported officer conduct she believed was unlawful and discriminatory. The lawsuit alleges that after making those reports, she lost key job responsibilities, faced unwarranted discipline and was subjected to increased scrutiny. It further claims the retaliation escalated and ultimately forced her to resign out of fear.
This is the second employment lawsuit Storms Dworak LLC has filed against the City of Duluth in the past year. In December 2025, the firm filed a separate lawsuit on behalf of former Duluth Police Department Lieutenant David Drozdowski, alleging retaliation for reporting suspected unlawful conduct and discrimination, which the lawsuit says led to his early retirement.
“These cases reflect a troubling pattern under the City’s current administration,” Naomi Martin of Storms Dworak LLC said. “Reporting concerns—especially about discrimination and public safety—is not easy. Public employees and servants who do so should be protected, not punished.”
The City of Duluth has previously said they do...
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