South Dakota Cheese Company Settles Discrimination Charge

December 21, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A South Dakota cheese making company has agreed to pay $85,000 to settle a sex discrimination charge.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says Milbank-based Valley Queen Cheese Factory has agreed to pay the settlement to two female applicants rejected for the position of milk hauler.

The EEOC says the company refused to hire the women for the milk hauler positions and had a history of staffing the position exclusively with men.

In addition to the settlement, the company agreed to provide anti-discrimination training to all employees and expand its recruiting.

Valley Queen Cheese Factory denies that it discriminated against women. The company says rather than fight through litigation, it decided it was best to settle the charges.

 

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Colorado Hotel Owner Settles Discrimination Suit

October 4, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A Hampton Inn & Suites franchise in Colorado has agreed to pay $85,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to non-Hispanic employees who alleged they were fired because the owners believed non-Hispanics are lazy.

The franchise in Craig is owned by Rawlins, Wyo.-based Century Shree Corp. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged the company fired at least three Caucasian housekeeping and laundry workers and replaced them with Latino workers, believing Hispanics work harder.

Century Shree’s lawyer Tim Kingston said Tuesday the alleged discrimination was by one “rogue” employee who has been discharged and that the owners deny wrongdoing.

The company has agreed to offer the fired workers reinstatement to their jobs, and the owners, managers and supervisors of the company will undergo training on federal anti-discrimination laws.

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Idaho Frozen Food Company Settles With EPA

May 9, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

An Idaho frozen food company has agreed to pay the Environmental Protection Agency $84,000 for failing to report its possession of hazardous chemicals to safety officials.

The EPA said Monday the Caldwell facility of Rhodes International, Inc. stored large quantities of the toxic gas anhydrous ammonia from 2006 to 2009.

Agency officials say the company, which makes frozen cinnamon rolls and other breads, failed to properly notify state and local emergency departments it was storing the chemicals, a violation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

Anhydrous ammonia is a pungent gas that attacks skin, eyes, throat and lungs, causing serious injury or death.

EPA unit manager Wally Moon says relaying that information to emergency planners is critical to protecting the community during a chemical spill.

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Billings Settles Lawsuit Over Chase, Fatal Crash

May 8, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

The family of a Billings, Mont. nurse who was killed by a drunken driver while he was fleeing police has settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the city and Yellowstone County for $400,000.

Billings attorney Chris Edwards says the settlement with the family of Lillian Stahl was reached Friday. The Billings Gazette reports the city and county will each give the family $200,000.

The lawsuit, filed by Lillian’s brother, Arnie Stahl, argued that police officers and sheriff’s deputies violated their own pursuit policies in chasing Brian Houston after an off-duty officer saw him hit a garbage can and a pickup truck.

Houston is serving a 20-year prison term for negligent vehicular homicide for the April 2008 crash.

City and county officials said neither admitted liability in the settlements.

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