Sexual Harassment Results

$640,000 – Sexual Harassment in Government Workplace

A corrections officer sexually harassed a series of county employees through his position at the Whatcom County Jail. Each employee initially thought she was the only victim, but eventually they began to talk to each other, realized that each was not alone, and then held a meeting at the home of one victim. They hired Dean Brett and Breean Beggs to bring a sexual harassment claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC invited the parties to participate in informal means of conciliation. The employees then entered mediation with the county. Five cases settled and two more serious claims required the filing of a lawsuit. After extensive discovery the entire claim was settled for a combined total settlement of $640,000, with individual settlements of $100,000, $100,000, $40,000, $100,000, $25,000, $25,000, and $250,000. The claim is Johnston v Whatcom County, United States District Court, Western District of Washington, at Seattle, cause number CV04-0626RSM. Victims were represented by attorneys Breean Beggs and Dean Brett.