Wilson County, North Carolina to Pay $100,000 for Retaliation Against Employee Who Complained of Sexual Harassment

In a shocking case of workplace retaliation, the Justice Department alleges that Wilson County, North Carolina engaged in unlawful retaliation when it fired Jennifer Riddle, a telecommunicator trainee, after she disclosed to supervisors that she had been sexually harassed while on the job. The alleged harassment took place in 2017, after Riddle was hired as a trainee for the Wilson County Emergency Communications (WCEC) agency.

According to the complaint, Riddle was sexually harassed by the agency’s assistant director, who resigned before he was formally fired. However, the retaliation against Riddle began soon after the assistant director’s departure, with her experiencing hostility from her supervisor and co-workers, culminating in a transfer. When she disclosed to the supervisors on her new shift that she had previously been sexually harassed by the assistant director and that WCEC failed to effectively deal with her harasser, the agency fired her.

This lawsuit and settlement send a clear message that the Justice Department stands with the brave employees who oppose unlawful discrimination in the workplace, and that we will vigorously oppose any employer that attempts to use retaliation as a means to suppress an employee’s civil rights.

Under the terms of the consent decree, Wilson County will develop and submit to the United States for approval revised discrimination and retaliation policies, investigation procedures for complaints of discrimination, and trainings that will apply county-wide. The consent decree further requires Wilson County to pay Riddle $100,000 in compensatory damages and back pay.

The enforcement of Title VII and other federal employment discrimination laws is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and its work is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

The case was brought by Trial Attorneys Christopher Woolley and Vendarryl Jenkins of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section.

Defendant: Wilson County, North Carolina

Criminal Charges: Retaliation in Violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

City and State: Wilson, North Carolina

Exact Date: Not specified

Sentence or Outcome: Consent decree requiring Wilson County to pay $100,000 in compensatory damages and back pay, develop revised discrimination and retaliation policies, and implement trainings

Dollar Amount: $100,000

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