KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Another current or former employee of the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center is taking legal action against Knox County, alleging mistreatment tied to the county’s recent takeover of the facility.
Dolly Mack, a 17-year veteran of the detention center, filed the lawsuit. According to court documents, Mack is 68 years old and has spent the past six years working as a front desk secretary—a role the lawsuit says suited her due to her age and existing medical conditions.
The lawsuit claims that during Knox County’s transition in overseeing the facility, Mack initially remained in her administrative role. However, after a leadership change involving former supervisor Brian Bivens, she was reassigned to a corrections officer position. The lawsuit alleges that a younger male employee was placed into her previous administrative role.
While working in her new assignment supervising female detainees, Mack says she suffered an injury that forced her to take medical leave. During that time, the lawsuit alleges that Bean Center leadership, under current Chief Cory Dauer, repeatedly contacted her about training requirements for her new position and even asked her to return early from leave to complete training.
Mack’s complaint mirrors issues raised in other lawsuits filed by current and former employees. She alleges staff were required to adopt policies from another juvenile detention center but received little to no hands-on training. Instead, employees were reportedly given a manual and expected to carry out their duties under the new procedures.
This latest lawsuit comes nearly a year after Knox County began taking over operations at the Bean Center. The transition followed controversy surrounding former director Richard L. Bean, who was accused of retaliating against employees who reported concerns about how the facility was run.
Knox County has not publicly responded to the latest lawsuit. The case adds to ongoing scrutiny over leadership decisions and working conditions at the juvenile detention center.
