NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT SETTLES SEXUAL HARASSMENT

US Department of Justice

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The North Little Rock School District has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department alleging that it subjected a female secretary in the district's administrative offices to sexual harassment and retaliated against her.

The Justice Department in February 1999 filed suit in U.S. District Court in Little Rock, alleging that the school district violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subjected Margaret Ness to a sexually hostile work environment. The Department asserted that an administrator in the school district repeatedly made sexually explicit gestures directed toward the secretary, and that the school district failed to stop him after she complained. The Department also alleged that the school district took adverse action against Mrs. Ness, including transferring her to a less desirable position, when she complained about the harassment.

Under the terms of the settlement approved Monday by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. Reasoner in Little Rock, the school district will pay Mrs. Ness $70,000 in damages and send her a letter of apology. In addition, the school district will issue, post, and distribute a sexual harassment policy; investigate promptly complaints of sexual harassment; and provide sexual harassment training to all of its employees. The consent decree will remain in effect for two years, during which time the Department of Justice will monitor the School District's compliance with its terms.

"All employees are entitled to a workplace free of hostility based on sex," said William Yeomans, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "This settlement provides relief not only to Mrs. Ness, but to current and future employees as well, whose rights will be protected by the terms of the consent decree."

Mrs. Ness originally filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigated the matter and found reasonable cause to believe Ms. Ness' allegations were true before referring it to the Justice Department.

"Sexual harassment cases of this nature are a priority in the Memphis District and we will continue to vigorously enforce the law in this area," said W. S. Grabon, Director of the Memphis District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. "We hope that this important settlement will influence other employers to take action to prevent sexual harassment and to appropriately respond to complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace."