ST. LOUIS ― Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP attorney, Terese A. Drew, recently recovered verdicts for her clients, the city of Chesterfield (Missouri) and a sergeant in its police department, in an employment discrimination case. Plaintiff, an officer in the police department, had sought $300,000 in actual damages and $200,000 in punitive damages.
Plaintiff alleged that the sergeant, who ran the police department squad to which the officer was to be transferred, sexually harassed her by making certain quid pro quo comments of a sexual nature. Plaintiff filed a formal complaint after the alleged statements were made. But an internal investigation which followed failed to turn up evidence that supported plaintiff’s claims. The officer also argued that the sergeant glared and stared at her, prevented her from accessing rooms by standing at the entrance and during a training session, told a joke and made a statement that the joke was sexual harassment training, when in fact it was not.
Plaintiff further contended that as a result of her claim, she was subjected to retaliation from the police department. Specifically, she alleged that she was given difficult work assignments, that her reports were overscrutinized, that she was given poor performance reviews, and that she was passed over for a raise.
The sergeant denied having made the allegedly harassing comments and engaging in the contested conduct. The city, in its defense, explained that the officer’s poor performance reviews resulted from the fact that plaintiff’s production was low compared to others in her squad. It further asserted that as plaintiff did not take a necessary physical fitness test, she was not entitled to the subject raise. Last, the city stated that its actions were taken in accordance with city policy and that plaintiff had not been held to a higher standard than others.
At the close of plaintiff's case, a directed verdict was granted in favor of the sergeant. The judge submitted the case against the City and further submitted the claim for punitive damages. After a trial held in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, a jury found, 11 to 1, in favor of the city.
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