29 Mar 2010 18:08 Africa/Lagos
Justice Department Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Dona Ana County, New Mexico
WASHINGTON, March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has approved a settlement resolving a sexual harassment lawsuit against Dona Ana County, New Mexico. The department's complaint, filed in May 2008, alleges that the county subjected five women, all current or former county custodians, to a hostile work environment because of their sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The complaint alleges that over the course of approximately 10 months, the male supervisor of these female custodians regularly used derogatory and offensive gender-based terms to describe women and commented about the sexual activities of women. The complaint also alleges that, despite the county's receipt of multiple complaints about the harassment, the county repeatedly failed to take prompt and appropriate corrective action to stop the harassment.
Under the terms of the settlement, approved by the federal court in New Mexico, the county must offer to pay $150,000, divided among the five female victims, to compensate them for their emotional suffering resulting from the harassment. The settlement also requires that the county make additional changes to its policies and procedures related to discrimination, including changes related to reporting and investigating complaints of discrimination and disciplining offenders and individuals who receive reports of discrimination but fail to take appropriate action. The county must ensure that policies and procedures related to discrimination are accessible to Spanish-speaking employees, as well as take additional steps to ensure that all employees are provided appropriate anti-discrimination training.
"It is critical that employers understand what constitutes sexual harassment, and that they take allegations of harassment seriously," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that all individuals are able to exercise their right to report to workplaces that are free of harassment, and that employers who become aware of harassment within their ranks root it out promptly."
The division was assisted in its litigation of this case by the New Mexico U.S. Attorney's Office. The division's lawsuit and underlying investigation in this case were prompted by an investigation and referral by the El Paso Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its Web site at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about Title VII and how to file a complaint of discrimination can be found on the Justice Department Web site at www.justice.gov/crt/emp/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD, +1-202-514-1888
Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/
Showing posts with label Justice Department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justice Department. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, December 14, 2009
Nigerian Couple Charged With Enslaving Nigerian Woman in Texas
10 Dec 2009 19:20 Africa/Lagos
Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged With Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Ft. Worth, Texas, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, on charges of engaging in a nine-year scheme to compel the labor of a Nigerian victim as their domestic servant, the Justice Department announced today.
According to the seven-count indictment returned late yesterday, which charges the defendants with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and false statements, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji enticed a widowed Nigerian mother of six to come to the United States to be their domestic servant by falsely promising a salary and support for her children, who she was struggling to support.
The indictment alleges that the defendants procured fraudulent immigration documents, confiscated the victim's documents, harbored her in their home, compelled her to work long hours with no days off for little or no pay, used a scheme to isolate her and restrict her communications, withheld her documents and pay, and refused her requests to return home or be paid. The indictment also alleges the defendants failed to provide support for the victim's six children in Nigeria, limited and monitored contact with her family in Nigeria, isolated her from normal society in the United States, and refused to allow her to regularly attend church. The indictment alleges Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the victim and made her fearful to call the police.
If convicted, Ngozi and Emmanuel Nnaji each face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. An indictment is merely an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, faces deportation following conviction on any of the charged felonies.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Susan French of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD: +1-202-514-1888
Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/
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Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged With Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Ft. Worth, Texas, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, on charges of engaging in a nine-year scheme to compel the labor of a Nigerian victim as their domestic servant, the Justice Department announced today.
According to the seven-count indictment returned late yesterday, which charges the defendants with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and false statements, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji enticed a widowed Nigerian mother of six to come to the United States to be their domestic servant by falsely promising a salary and support for her children, who she was struggling to support.
The indictment alleges that the defendants procured fraudulent immigration documents, confiscated the victim's documents, harbored her in their home, compelled her to work long hours with no days off for little or no pay, used a scheme to isolate her and restrict her communications, withheld her documents and pay, and refused her requests to return home or be paid. The indictment also alleges the defendants failed to provide support for the victim's six children in Nigeria, limited and monitored contact with her family in Nigeria, isolated her from normal society in the United States, and refused to allow her to regularly attend church. The indictment alleges Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the victim and made her fearful to call the police.
If convicted, Ngozi and Emmanuel Nnaji each face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. An indictment is merely an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, faces deportation following conviction on any of the charged felonies.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Susan French of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD: +1-202-514-1888
Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
11 Dec 2009
21:11
Platts Survey: OPEC Pumps 28.94 Million Barrels Per Day In November
05:51
Strategieën van operators bevorderen groei van smartphones in markten in opkomst
05:31
Les stratégies des opérateurs alimenteront une croissance des téléphones intelligents sur les marchés émergents
10 Dec 2009
19:20
Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged With Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude
14:50
Operator Strategies Will Fuel Smartphone Growth in Emerging Markets
14:15
Russian American Kids Ballet's Nutcracker Showcases New Choreography and Multicultural Focus
9 Dec 2009
22:00
Poll Finds Most Publics Around the World Want Their Governments to be More Cooperative
20:03
The National Archives Celebrates Bill of Rights Day With Naturalization Ceremony
8 Dec 2009
20:13
BET Travels to the Motherland
18:41
Arrest Warrant against El-Rufai Seeks to Intimidate, says Lawyer
10:56
RICS: BCIS Offers Essential Free Guide to Construction Data Standards
7 Dec 2009
20:28
Apasionada final: Castrol Predictor señala a Brasil como rival de España en la final de la 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM)
15:56
Fiery Final Ahead as All New Castrol Predictor Shows Brazil Most Likely to Meet Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final
13:00
Ritchie Bros. US$45 million Fort Worth auction featured almost 1,200 frac tanks
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