Local Law Firms Home > Employment Law News > Sierra Pacific Settles Employment Law Violation Lawsuit

Sierra Pacific Settles Employment Law Violation Lawsuit for $95,000

Redding, CA-based forestry giant Sierra Pacific Industries has agreed to settle an employment law violation lawsuit filed by the EEOC on behalf of Ahmed Elshenawy.

The federal discrimination lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, charged that after the 9/11 attacks and right up to his termination in 2004, the company allowed Elshenawy to be harassed by his co-workers. Elshenawy is an Egyptian national, and was taunted with slurs.

The lawsuit further alleges that when Elshenawy complained, the company retaliated with harsh disciplinary measures. In addition, other workers started filing complaints against him. At least three co-workers filed a sexual harassment suit against Elshenawy. These complaints were cited by the company as one of the causes for his termination in 2004.

The EEOC first tried to go through conciliation to get a pre-litigation settlement, but Sierra Pacific refused. The lawsuit was then filed in June 2008. Sierra Pacific has now agreed to settle the case with a $95,000 payment to Elshenawy. The company has agreed to a two year decree involving several measures to prevent similar occurrences in future.
As part of the settlement agreement, Sierra Pacific will in future report all complaints which relate to discrimination based on nationality, and retaliation. They have agreed to revise their anti-discrimination policies, provide annual training for employees, and post information to ensure that all existing employees know about this decree agreement.
After being terminated, Elshenawy had signed up to join the U.S. Army. He said he would never forget the discrimination, but the EEOC showed him that there are laws to protect workers.

Despite agreeing to settle the lawsuit, Sierra Pacific still denies all the charges in the lawsuit. They said in a statement that they stand by their decision to fire Elshenawy because of all the sexual harassment complaints.