JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT
WITH ZUNI, NEW MEXICO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Zuni, New Mexico Public School District to resolve a sexual harassment complaint filed by a female teacher who was formerly employed by the school district.

The consent decree, submitted along with a complaint, in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, requires the Zuni, New Mexico Public School District to pay the victim $75,000 in compensatory damages and institute administrative changes. The complaint alleged that the school district subjected a female teacher to sexual harassment that created a hostile work environment and that adversely affected the terms, conditions and privileges of her employment. The complaint also alleged that the school district failed to take appropriate action to remedy the effects of the discriminatory treatment.

The female teacher originally filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which investigated the case and found reasonable cause to believe that a violation of Title VII had occurred. After unsuccessfully attempting to resolve the case, the EEOC referred the case to the Justice Department.

"Unlawful sexual harassment will not be tolerated," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, "This case is another example of the Justice Department's ongoing commitment to eradicate illegal discrimination and to vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws."

Georgia Marchbanks, Enforcement Manager of the Albuquerque District Office of the EEOC stated, "Egregious sexual harassment cases will continue to be pursued by the EEOC in New Mexico because we want to ensure that every individual has the freedom to compete in the workplace. Every individual should be free to work without being harassed due to his or her gender."

Under the consent decree, the school district agrees to:

•revise its sexual harassment policy and to adopt procedures to ensure that all complaints of sexual harassment are properly investigated;

•ensure that its revised sexual harassment policy is distributed to all current employees and is posted in all buildings of the school district;

•provide new employees with a copy of the policy and require their signed acknowledgment of its existence; and

•provide training to all of its employees regarding Title VII's prohibition against sexual harassment.

Additional information about the Employment Litigation Section within the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is available on the Department's website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp/index.html.

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