Georgia Employees Allege Discrimination

Bainbridge, GATwo Georgia employment lawsuits stemming from allegations of gender discrimination were recently settled out of court. The Decatur County government has agreed to pay $765,000 to three male plaintiffs, Steven Enfinger, Guy Yates and Jimmy Bellflower, and $600,000 to a female plaintiff, Cynthia Harrell.

According to the Post-Searchlight on 2/12/10, both lawsuits were related to a previous lawsuit filed by former Decatur County firefighter Michelle Legace. An employee of Emergency Medical Services, Legace was denied a transfer to Fire and Rescue, despite being more qualified than the two male firefighters who were hired instead. Legace alleged gender and race discrimination and received $175,000 to settle her lawsuit.

Yates, Enfinger and the estate of Bellflower, who is now deceased, filed lawsuits alleging that they faced discrimination and unfair treatment when they supported Legace's requests for hiring consideration. The plaintiffs said they spoke publicly when two other less qualified firefighters were hired over Legace.

Cynthia Harrell's lawsuit included claims of discrimination and sexual harassment on the part of other firefighters when she was employed with Fire and Rescue. Her lawsuit was settled for $600,000.

Meanwhile, SleeveCo Inc., a Dawsonville, Georgia-based company that makes stretch-and-shrink sleeve labels, has agreed to pay a settlement of $200,000 to a former female employee who alleged that she endured inappropriate touching and other forms of sexual harassment from a manager who subsequently fired her when she complained about his conduct.