FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the Northwest New Mexico Regional Solid Waste Authority over allegations of racial and sexual harassment against Desbah Padilla, a Native American female, and other women who have worked or continue to work at the Waste Authority.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Albuquerque, also alleges that the Waste Authority created a work environment that was so racially and/or sexually hostile that Padilla and other similarly situated female employees were forced to resign from their jobs at the Waste Authority. The complaint further alleges that the Waste Authority has failed to take appropriate actions to remedy the effects of the discriminatory treatment.
The Justice Department is committed to rooting out discrimination in whatever guise it may present itself, said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. No one should have to fear going to work because of their race or gender. Ms. Padilla originally filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigated the matter and found reasonable cause to believe that violations of Title VII had occurred. After unsuccessfully attempting to conciliate the matter, the EEOC referred the charge to the Justice Department.
Our goal is to eliminate racial and sexual harassment in the workplace, said Georgia Marchbanks, Enforcement Manager, Albuquerque District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We can accomplish this goal with the assistance of individuals like Desbah Padilla, who are willing to utilize the Title VII process to seek to bring about positive changes in the workplace. One person can make a difference. The Justice Department's complaint asks the court to award remedial relief to Padilla and similarly situated present or former Waste Authority employees for the losses they have suffered as a result of the discrimination and to order the Waste Authority to take other appropriate measures to overcome the effects of the discrimination.
Additional information about the employment litigation section within the Justice Departments Civil Rights division is available on the Departments website at http://www.hud.gov>www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp/index.html. 02-171
Source: US Department of Justice
