Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Settlement reached in Joplin Globe lawsuit

A motion filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri indicates a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Joplin Globe and Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. has been settled.
The lawsuit, filed by a former inserter, Kathleen Willis, was scheduled to come to trial in September 2008. According to the motion the two sides have agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning that Ms. Willis can bring no further action against the newspaper.

In her petition, filed Jan. 23, Kathleen Willis claimed the Globe created a "hostile work environment" by "allowing its employees and agents to make unwanted sexual advances and contact with (Ms. Willis) and fellow female employees."

Ms. Willis says that after she complained to supervisors about the sexual harassment her employment schedule was changed and after she filed a complaint she "was threatened with the loss of her job." Ms. Willis says no action was ever taken against any of the people who were doing the harassment.

Ms. Willis said one of her fellow employees touched her and other female employees on the "breasts, waist, and rear" but even after complaints "nothing was ever done." She said that after he complaints, her supervisor told her "Someone is going to get fired and it might be you."

The three-count petition charged the Globe with creating a hostile work environment, sex discrimination, and retaliation.

No comments: