Presbyterian Healthcare Settles EEOC Race Discrimination, Retaliation Claim for $150,000

Presbyterian Healthcare Services, a healthcare organization that operates Lincoln County Medical Center and its emergency services unit in New Mexico, paid $150,000 and provided other relief to settle a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Case background

The Lincoln County Medical Center allegedly discriminated against a black emergency medical technician, Tabitha Knoll-Billingsley, then retaliated against her after she complained about racially motivated harassment perpetuated by a white coworker. This sort of discrimination and retaliation violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination in the workplace.

The decree that included the settlement prohibited Presbyterian from discriminating against any employees on the basis of race in the future, and from retaliating against these employees. Presbyterian also agreed as part of the settlement to conduct a thorough review of its EEO discrimination reporting and investigation policies and revise when necessary. Furthermore, the healthcare facility must train all employees on race and retaliation laws in accordance with Title VII, and must issue a letter of apology to Knoll-Billingsley.

If you have been a victim of discrimination on the basis of being a member of a protected class like race, religion, ethnicity, gender or age, you have the right to take legal action against the person or entity perpetuating that discrimination when it occurs in the workplace. For more information about discrimination and retaliation lawsuits and your legal rights, contact an experienced whistleblower attorney at Kardell Law Group with your questions.