It is a violation of both federal and Kentucky state law to retaliate against an employee based on the information he or she discloses during the course of a sexual harassment investigation.
Vicky Crawford, a former 30 year employee of the Nashville Metropolitan Schools, was fired after she disclosed during a sexual harassment investigation that a supervisor had engaged in other acts of sexual harassment. The United States Supreme Court ruled last year in Crawford v. Metropolitan Govt. of Nashville that her firing in these circumstances was unlawful retaliation. (click here to read the Supreme Court's opinion).
A federal court jury returned a verdict of $1.5 million in Crawford's favor on Monday, January 25, 2010. The verdict included compensatory damages, back pay and lost future wages.
The Nashville Tennessean reports on the case: "Nashville Schools Employee Who Was Fired Is Awarded $1.5 Million."
You can also read more about the case on the Kentucky Employment Law Blog post by Robert Abell: "Retaliation Protections Applicable to Employee Providing Information In Internal Investigation."
