Lindsey Barrett has filed a significant legal complaint against the City of Forest Park, Georgia, and its police department, alleging sex-based harassment and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on February 20, 2026. Barrett accuses Captain Willis Skelton and Chief Brandon Criss of violating her rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Barrett’s lawsuit details a disturbing pattern of behavior by Captain Skelton that began around June 2023. She claims that Skelton frequently invaded her personal space, touched her shoulders without consent, and made inappropriate noises while staring at her during work shifts. Despite Barrett’s repeated objections to this conduct, she alleges that Skelton continued his behavior unabated. Her senior supervisor witnessed these incidents but did not intervene. Barrett further asserts that after confronting Skelton about his actions on March 4, 2024, she was placed on administrative suspension with pay as a retaliatory measure.
The complaint outlines multiple attempts by Barrett to report the harassment to various authorities within the police department and city administration, including Chief Criss and Internal Affairs. However, she contends that no meaningful investigation or remedial action was taken in response to her complaints. Instead, Barrett faced further retaliation through disciplinary actions such as suspension without pay and eventual termination from her position on May 14, 2024.
Barrett is seeking several forms of relief from the court. She requests compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits due to her termination, as well as general damages for emotional suffering caused by the alleged discrimination and retaliation. Additionally, she seeks punitive damages against Skelton and Criss for their willful violation of her rights. Barrett also asks for declaratory relief affirming that her statutory and constitutional rights were violated and injunctive relief to prevent future violations.
Representing Lindsey Barrett is attorney Matthew C. Billips from the law firm Barrett & Farahany. The case is presided over by Judge SEG-JSA under Case ID 1:26-cv-00988-SEG-JSA.
Source: 126cv988_Lindsey_Barrett_v_City_of_Forest_Park_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
