BY BEN L. KAUFMAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sherriden G. Weil has settled her sex harassment complaint against the U.S. Postal Service for $190,000, her attorney Robert Laufman said Tuesday.
The settlement was negotiated after jurors awarded $175,000 for emotionally debilitating sexual harassment but before the judge awarded back pay and other damages.
Ms. Weil accepted less than the likely total to avoid a postal service appeal; the Postal Service agreed, rather than pay more and risk losing the appeal with further costs.
Mr. Laufman said he will be paid $130,000.
When jurors returned their verdict for Ms. Weil in July, Magistrate Judge Timothy S. Hogan apologized for what the postal service did to her.
"Eight neutral people have said by their verdict today that you're a legitimate victim and that being so, you're due an apology from somebody, and I for one want to say that I'm sorry you got put through this," he said.
A co-worker of Ms. Weil's received minimal discipline and their bosses' inability or unwillingness to apologize contributed to Ms. Weil's uncontested post-traumatic stress disorder.
The case began almost four years ago when co-worker Terrence Cappel used his arms to trap Ms. Weil against a rail at the Sharonville Bulk Mail Center. What happened next was disputed:
Ms. Weil said Mr. Cappel made pumping movements with his groin against her buttocks for 15-20 seconds.
Mr. Cappel and others said contact occurred when Ms. Weil pushed back to escape or that Mr. Cappel acted as claimed but Ms. Weil did not mind.
Ms. Weil complained to supervisor Patricia Thompson, who questioned Mr. Cappel the next day, reassigned him and told him to avoid Ms. Weil.
Ms. Thompson then suspended Mr. Cappel for 14 days without pay, but his union challenged the punishment. Against the advice of her bosses, Ms. Thompson reduced the penalty to an "official discussion," the lowest level of discipline.
