Digest of ICRC Final Decisions: July
1, 1989 to June 30, 1990
Dianne Humburd v. Mary A. Harlan and
Virgil G. Harlan:
Complainant, a Black female seeking child care
services, alleged that Respondents denied her child care services because
of her race. A default judgment was entered against Virgil G. Harlan who
failed to appear. Mary A. Harlan was found to have acquiesced in her husband's
(Virgil) statement, made to Ms. Humburd, that there would be no mixing of
the races at Ms. Harlan's child care business. Ms. Humburd was awarded $4,400
against Respondents for emotional distress. She was also awarded $2,640
in special compensatory damages as back pay resulting from the loss of a
job she had to relinquish because she had been denied child care services.
Interest on these amounts, at the rate of 10% per annum, was also awarded.
In a subsequent supplemental decision, the Commission awarded Ms. Humburd
an additional $1,833.50 for attorneys fees. No appeal to district court
was taken from these decisions. To date, no enforcement action has been
filed.
Ann M. Redies v. Bumper-to-Bumper and Fauser Oil Company, Inc,:
Complainant Ann M. Redies, a female cashier-clerk
at an auto parts and convenience store, alleged that she was denied promotion
to the position of Assistant Manager because of her sex. During the course
of the hearing, the issues of whether Complainant Redies was denied equal
pay and constructively discharged were also tried. After considering the
evidence, which included statements by the Manager to female employees to
the effect that Respondents needed a man as Assistant Manager, Respondents
were found to have failed to promote Complainant Redies because of her sex.
No discrimination was found in regard to the issues of equal pay and constructive
discharge. In the proposed decision, Ms. Redies was awarded $342.50 in back
pay and $750 in compensatory damages for emotional distress. The case was
settled prior to the Commission meeting at which the proposed decision would
have been considered.
Hoa Thi Blood v. Hy-Vee Food Stores:
In a prior decision, the Commission had found
that complainant, a female of Vietnamese national origin, had been discriminated
against in promotion and assignment of working hours on the basis of her
sex and national origin. The case was remanded to the Commission for consideration
of the issue of whether the complaint was timely filed, i.e. was
it filed within one hundred and eighty days of the last date of the discriminatory
act or practice? On remand, the Commission found that the complaint was
timely in respect to national origin discrimination in the assignment of
working hours and denial of promotion. In making this finding, the Commission
relied on the "continuing violation" theory. The discrimination
in working hours and promotion were each of a continuing nature as each
set of practices constituted a series of related acts, the last of which
occurred within the statutory time period of one hundred eighty days. The
practice of sex discrimination in promoting was also found to be timely
under the continuing violation theory. This discrimination consisted of
the continued maintenance of a discriminatory policy or system into the
limitations period. The Commission's decision was upheld by the District
Court and affirmed by an Iowa Supreme Court decision which adopted the Commission's
findings and rationale.
Robert E. Swanson v. Lee Dahl Motors:
Complainant Robert E. Swanson alleged that Lee Dahl Motors failed to hire
him for the position of sales representative because of his age. His complaint
was amended to allege retaliation which was an issue tried at the hearing.
After considering evidence, which included (a) an advertisement setting
forth an age preference for applicants between the ages of 21 and 35 inclusive,
and (b) the Respondent's admission that one reason it did not like Complainant
Swanson was because of his letters to Respondent opposing the discriminatory
advertisement, Lee Dahl Motors was found to have committed age discrimination
in employment and retaliation. In the proposed decision, Complainant was
awarded the amount of $47,293.92 in back pay and benefits and $2,500 in
damages for emotional distress. The case was settled prior to the commission
meeting at which the proposed decision would have been considered.
Stephanie Juehring v. Scott County Civil Service Commission:
In this case of alleged sex discrimination, the Assistant Attorney General
for the Commission filed a motion for dismissal indicating that Complainant
Stephanie Juehring had withdrawn the underlying charge of discrimination.
Since the motion was not joined by Complainant and a copy of the withdrawal
was not provided to the Administrative Law Judge, Complainant Juehring and
all other parties to the case were given an opportunity for hearing on the
motion. The Complainant did not take advantage of this opportunity. In light
of Complainant's failure to resist dismissal, the Assistant Attorney General's
statement that complainant had withdrawn the charge, and the Commission's
broad discretion to determine whether it wishes to continue prosecution
of a case, the motion to dismiss was granted.
Michael Biggles (Lovelady) v. Black Hawk County Health Center and Black
Hawk County Board of Supervisors:
Complainant Michael Biggles alleged that Respondents failed to hire him
for the position of Nurse Aid on the basis that he was perceived to be disabled
due to a prior back injury. Respondents admitted that Complainant Biggles
was rejected because of a rule barring employment of persons with prior
back injury or surgery in the Nurse Aid and other positions, but asserted
that this rejection was justified based on the nature of the occupation.
An examination of the evidence revealed that there was no "medical
expert testimony demonstrating any specific probability of risk of future
injury or any medical reports demonstrating a substantial linkage between
prior back injury and surgery and any risk of future injuries to Nurse Aides."
Nor was there any evidence that the disqualification was based on medical
advice or any showing of a reduction of injuries based on the rule. The
available medical evidence was to the contrary, i. e. the Respondent's physician's
report approved of Complainant Biggle's spinal flexibility and heavy lifting
ability.
Complainant Biggles was awarded $5,864.36 in back pay plus interest at the
rate of 10% per annum. In addition to a cease and desist order, Respondents
were required to send written notices to all past applicants disqualified
for employment after October 6, 1985 under the back injury rule, to issue
a press release with similar content, to post equal employment opportunity
posters, and indicate they were equal opportunity employers in all future
job advertising. The Respondents complied with the Commission's final decision.
Rachel Helkenn v. EVCC Corporation d.b.a. Echo Valley Country Club and
Racoon Valley Investment Company:
Complainant Rachel Helkenn alleged that the Respondents discharged her from
the position of waitress because of her age. There was both direct and circumstantial
evidence of age discrimination. The direct evidence included statements
by management officials to the effect that unsatisfactory employees could
be replaced by college students and that management preferred employees
in the 19 to 25 age group. In the proposed decision, Complainant Helkenn
was awarded $9,225.52 in back pay and $1,000 in damages for emotional distress.
Interest on these amounts, at the rate of 10% per annum, was also awarded.
The case was settled, prior to the Commission meeting at which the
proposed decision would have been considered, for $8,000 in back wages and
$2,000 in other compensatory damages.