U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Mason County Forest Products
Published: Oct. 22, 2011 | Result Date: Jul. 20, 2011 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: CV-09-5609 RBL Settlement – $900,000
Court
USDC Washington
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Teri L. Healy
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Damien A. Lee
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Defendant
Barry A. Johnsrud
(Jackson Lewis PC)
Facts
Two female workers at a saw and wood planning mill in Washington operated by Mason County Forest Products sued the company alleging sexual harassment, discrimination based on sex, and retaliation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) investigation revealed that the two women faced widespread hostility in their work environment. The supervisor made it clear that he did not want women on his crew. He also used demeaning comments, physical intimidation and verbal threats, while also condoning and participating in the usage of crude and misogynistic language reducing women to body parts. Male workers allegedly targeted female workers with lewd comments and gestures, including displaying sex toys and pornography in the locker room.
Result
Mason agreed to pay the women $900,000 to settle the manner. It also agreed to a three-year consent decree to implement corrective measures. Although Mason ceased its operations in 2010, its parent company, Long Bell Ventures LLC, was required to implement the corrective measures.
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