Employee endured ongoing sexual harassment from her male colleagues and was fired when she complained of the treatment to her employer
CONTACT:
Gregg Kelley, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs [email protected], 202-319-1070
WASHINGTON – This past week, the jury in a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found in favor of Ms. Evangeline Parker in Parker v. Reema Consulting, deciding that Ms. Parker was illegally discriminated against when Reema Consulting fired her for complaining about vicious rumors started by her male colleagues that she was receiving special consideration from the company in return for sleeping with her boss. Ms. Parker had an exemplary work record and had received promotions because of her performance prior to being fired.
“In a world where more and more women are proving to be more than capable of standing toe-to-toe with our male counterparts in male dominated industries, we are still being subjected to disrespect, disregard and harassment. The jury’s decision solidifies women’s positions in the workplace dispelling the idea that we sleep our way to the top. Not only does it prove that women are capable of excelling in a male dominated industry, but we will no longer tolerate being minimized to locker room talk in order to disguise others’ insecurities about having a female supervisor,” said Ms. Evangeline Parker, plaintiff.
Ms. Parker was awarded a significant $340,000 in compensatory damages, as well as $385,000 in punitive damages. She has moved on to create her own trucking company, an industry dominated by men.
The plaintiff was represented by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and Fish & Richardson.
“Ms. Parker was a rising star until her co-workers started a false rumor that she had slept her way to the top. When she dared to push back against this ugly allegation, her company showed her the door and protected her harassers,” stated Joanna Wasik, counsel at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee. “Today’s decision by the jury vindicates Ms. Parker and sends a message to all employers who would seek to punish a woman for standing up for her rights.”
“We couldn’t be happier for Ms. Parker and her family, and for the impact that this will have that extends far beyond this case,” said Daniel A. Tishman, counsel at Fish & Richardson.
Links to the case documents can be accessed below:
- Filed Complaint
- 4th Circuit order reversing the grant of motion to dismiss
- Judge Chuang’s order of summary judgement
PRESS:
American Bar Association
Bloomberg Law
Businesswire
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