GRIPE AGAINST CO-WORKER WINDS UP IN FEDERAL COURT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9202290157
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: VICTORIA RATCLIFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
GRIPE AGAINST CO-WORKER WINDS UP IN FEDERAL COURT
Lois Wise never meant to make a federal case out of the problems she was having at work.
Wise, a mail process clerk with the Postal Service who describes herself as a "quiet-spirited" person, says she simply was tired of what she considered to be abusive language directed at her from a co-worker.
"I mean her no harm, but enough is enough," Wise said recently.
"It's been going on several years. It would be nice if it stopped."
Wise declined to repeat the comments, saying she doesn't use language like that.
"It was a long-term, abusive-type situation," said Mary Poletti, a lawyer Wise consulted about the situation.
"Every time she'd pass her, she'd make derogatory comments and use bad language."
Last June, Wise went to a Roanoke magistrate who issued a summons charging the co-worker, Deborah Kinsey, with using abusive and violent language.
When the case went to General District Court in Roanoke, Kinsey and thePostal Service asked that it be transferred to federal court.
It was.
The law permits criminal cases to be moved to federal court if the alleged act occurred while a federal employee was performing his or her job duties, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney John Corcoran, who now is defending Kinsey.
Kinsey denied using abusive language, and the Postal Service takes the same position, Corcoran said.
"So this little petty offense is now a federal case."
Assistant Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Wanda DeWease is scheduled to prosecute the case Monday before U.S. District Court Judge James Turk.
"I did not mean for it to get to federal court," Wise said.
"I did not ask for it at all. That was not my doing."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB