The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 41, September 25, 2005, Article 14

FORMER DENVER MINT WORKER WINS LAWSUIT

On Saturday, September 24th the Rocky Mountain News
reported that "A federal jury on Friday awarded $80,000 to
former Denver Mint employee April Garcia Kaas after concluding
that she was forced to work in an environment hostile to women.

"I don't feel like I've won," Kaas, tearful and clutching a Bible,
said afterward. She said Psalm 35, a prayer for deliverance from
enemies, best expresses how she felt."

"Kaas went to work at the mint in 1993 but left in March 2000
after an argument with her boss, Louis "Bud" Woodard, in which
she alleges he struck her. Lawyers for the mint accused her of
exaggerating what happened for personal gain.

Kaas got a restraining order against Woodard from a Denver
county judge, but mint officials refused to keep the two separated,
arguing that the mint is a federal enclave where county court orders
don't apply.

Kaas said she doesn't expect working conditions to improve quickly
at the mint, despite her legal victory."

"Former and current mint workers testified during the trial that
male managers ruled by fear and intimidation, made unwelcome
sexual advances toward female employees and made smutty
remarks, displayed offensive pictures and graffiti, and exchanged
nasty e-mails about women. Witnesses also testified that managers
were prejudiced against Hispanics.

Mint officials argued that Kaas was a difficult and unreliable
employee who often missed work unexpectedly and without good
reason. They said the mint employs numerous Hispanic managers.
They also said Kaas participated in the sexual jokes and dated
two co-workers."

To read the full story, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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