The Denver City Council will decide Monday whether to pay seven figures to settle a lawsuit filed by women who alleged they suffered sexual harassment from jail inmates while they worked at the Denver Sheriff’s Department.
The lawsuit alleged that jail deputies were regularly “subjected to severe and unwelcome sexual harassment by male inmates,” including degrading language and public masturbation by the inmates. The complaint alleged that “sexual harassment is fostered by the failure of (the sheriff’s department) to take reasonable steps to prevent and stop it.”
The complaint also alleged a “pattern and practice” of discrimination against women in job assignments and other employment conditions.
The proposed settlement totals $1,550,000 and involves 15 plaintiffs, according to city documents. About $609,000 of that sum will be paid to the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Jester Gibson & Moore LLP, city staff said.
Representatives for the plaintiffs weren’t immediately available for comment.