APNewsbreak: Florida paid millions settling harassment cases
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The state of Florida has paid more than $11 million over a 30-year period to settle hundreds of cases that alleged that state workers were sexually harassed by supervisors and co-workers, or were forced to work in a hostile work environment.
The Associated Press requested the information from the state agency that tracks payments made to settle lawsuits filed against state agencies and state universities.
The information released Monday showed that more than 300 cases have resulted in payments since 1987. Amounts ranged from a $5,500 payment to a Florida State University student who alleged harassment from a supervisor to a $1.3 million payment to settle a class action lawsuit filed by nurses who worked at state prisons. Nearly 60 per cent of the cases involved employees who worked in the Department of Corrections.
One woman received a nearly $129,000 payment just last year to settle a two-year-old lawsuit that alleged her supervisor at the Florida Department of Health had discussed sexual activities he had witnessed. He also would comment about women’s breasts and buttocks, according to the lawsuit.