|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Editorials
A poor record on sex harassment suits : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisA poor record on sex harassment suits
| 12/20/2012
|
As we reported last week lawsuits have been filed in federal court by two former Kendall County Sheriff's Department employees alleging sexual harassment by male supervisors and co-workers.
One of the former employees worked as a sheriff's deputy, while the other served as a corrections officer.
Both women had previously filed charges of sexual harassment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to Kendall County State's Attorney Eric Weis, the EEOC investigates such charges and, in most instances, closes the case and issues a "right to sue" letter to the complainants.
Both women are seeking compensatory and other damages to be determined by a jury, in addition to lost wages and attorney's fees and court costs.
Weis told the Ledger-Sentinel the cases will be turned over to the county's insurance company and its attorney to defend. He estimated that, with likely procedural steps and motions, it could take a couple of years for the cases to reach juries.
Whether either or both of the cases get that far will be determined. But what is most troubling is that allegations of sexual harassment by sheriff's department employees are nothing new. Back in May 2010 the county board voted to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the sheriff's department former Chief Deputy Terry Tichava which ultimately cost $380,000 in settlement, court and legal fees. The county's insurance company and county taxpayers paid for that settlement.
When contacted last week, Sheriff Richard Randall declined comment on the latest lawsuits citing pending litigation.
Given the sheriff's department's recent embarrassing track record on sexual harassment lawsuits, we hope Randall is now reviewing, with the intent of strengthening, his department's sexual harassment policies.
All sheriff's department employees must be assured that they will not be harassed sexually or in any other way while performing their duties. County taxpayers, meanwhile, must be protected from the needless expense of harassment lawsuits.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
