IndianaLocalNews

City of South Bend ordered to pay $80k to former officer in sexual harassment case

(Photo supplied/South Bend Police Department)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the City of South Bend to pay more than $80,000 to a former female police officer who alleged the department illegally retaliated against her for accusing a male supervisor of sexual harassment.

The South Bend Tribune reports that the Thursday order comes after a jury ruled in November that the South Bend Police Department unlawfully retaliated against Joy Phillips by targeting her for disciplinary action after she filed a sexual harassment complaint.

Phillips filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in October 2014, alleging a supervisor suggested she could wear a miniskirt and high heels to a meeting. Phillips says the department launched multiple internal investigations and disciplinary actions after the complaint.

South Bend’s attorney said Thursday that any discipline against Phillips was solely to hold her accountable for policy violations.

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1 comment

$80,000 for a comment? Absolutely insane!!!! May 8, 2018 at 7:12 am

$80,000 for a comment? Where will this end? These overly sensitive women make the same comments to men routinely. We just take it as it is intended. If I were in a position to hire employee’s I certainly would pick a man in any situation that a qualified man was available for. I would even postpone hiring until a qualified man could be found. Employers, just hire men and avoid any possible ridiculous accusations that perpetuate this nonsense.

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