Last February, Tampa City Council voted to pay a $350,000 settlement to Scarlett Lopez for pregnancy and disability-related discrimination and retaliation claims against her former boss. Lopez’ lawsuit accused Jean Duncan, administrator of the city’s troubled mobility department. This month, the same council voted to award Duncan with a commendation upon her retirement.
Duncan gave Lopez bad performance ratings and demoted her after she had to take leave due to a medically complicated pregnancy and other medical conditions, Lopez’ lawsuit says. Lopez complained about discrimination, and the suit alleges that Duncan retaliated by ensuring Lopez was terminated and not rehired.
Duncan’s daughter-in-law, like Lopez, was employed in the mobility department and took leave for her pregnancy. Unlike Lopez, she was granted leave, and was not penalized for use of leave on her performance review.
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay first reported last month on the settlement, including allegations of potential preferential treatment towards Duncan’s daughter-in-law. Later that same month, Duncan submitted a retirement request to the city. Her last day was June 5.
At the June 4 city council meeting, Tampa Chief of Staff John Bennett announced Duncan’s retirement and asked that city council recognize her for her years of service to the city. Councilmember Charlie Miranda motioned to give Duncan a commendation and asked that she approach the dais for a photo op and speech.
A commendation is an official public recognition of appreciation awarded by city council for exemplary service to the city or the public good.
“Jean’s legacy is defined by the infrastructure she strengthened, the colleagues she mentored, and her deep love for the City of Tampa,” reads the commendation, which was framed on a marbled plaque given to Duncan.
Council voted to award Duncan with the commendation in a 6–1 vote, with Councilmember Bill Carlson voting against. “Have you guys read the Scarlett Lopez case?” Carlson asked. He then left the dais as Duncan approached.
“You’ve done the best you can with what you had,” Miranda said as he gave Duncan the framed commendation.
The praise for Duncan doesn’t sit well with some of her former co-workers.
“It was a hostile work environment where I was bullied and discriminated against despite all of the contributions that I made,” former Duncan subordinate Alana Brasier told CL. “It was clear that Jean cared more about looking good in front of the mayor and the chief of staff than doing the right thing.”
Brasier was hired by the city to eliminate deaths on roadways, and her work quickly got her promoted to oversee large portions of the mobility department. She left in 2023 along with several other women who claimed discrimination from Duncan and her subordinates.
Brasier told CL that city council has little control over staff issues, but the least they could do is not commend employees who create a toxic work environment.
“It really wears on morale when staff continuously see things like that happen,” Brasier said. “It shows that their efforts are not seen, not appreciated, and they’re disposable. That’s exactly what I felt while working there. So what happens is people either leave or they just keep their head down and do the bare minimum. And neither is good for the city of Tampa.”
After the commendation, Carlson said discrimination complaints should have disqualified Duncan from receiving a commendation.
“That’s so disrespectful and it is indicative of the negative culture of this city,” Carlson during his comments from the dais. “We have to support our employees who have legitimate complaints, especially when we just paid one $300,000.”
In total, over $650,000 was spent due to the case. The actual settlement amount was $350,000, and records obtained by CL through a public records request show that the city paid more than $300,000 for the legal services of Johnson Jackson PLLC.
Johnson Jackson represents employers in legal battles against employees. “We have litigated cases involving a wide range of issues, ranging from straightforward employment-law matters involving claims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to more esoteric matters involving complex wage-and-hour issues, cutting-edge disability-law claims, and matters involving constitutional issues,” Johnson Jackson’s website reads.
Johnson Jackson’s work helped the city get Lopez to take a settlement, meaning no jury had to decide if there was any legal wrongdoing.
Later in the meeting, John Bennett presented council with a slideshow on whistleblower protections. One slide reads: “Legal findings of retaliation – zero to date.”
Per the settlement agreement obtained by CL, one of the terms of Lopez’ settlement is that she cannot discuss the case with anyone.
“If Ms. Lopez is approached by anyone regarding the Settlement Payment, Ms. Lopez should inform the individual that she and the City had a difference of opinion at one time, but that the Parties have resolved their differences and have agreed not to discuss the subject any further,” the document reads.
In an email to city council, Brasier said the commendation, while seemingly the easy thing to do given Duncan’s tenure, was “a slap in the face” to city employees hurt by her actions.
“(Duncan) set an example for others under her tutelage that you could behave this way and get away with it,” Brasier’s email reads. “This mess will be inherited by the next Mayor.”
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This article appears in June 18 – 24, 2026.
