U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Asotin County, Washington (E.D. Wash.)
On September 29, 2021, the United States filed a complaint in United States v. Asotin County, Washington (E.D. Wash.), alleging that the County violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). The complaint alleged that an Asotin County deputy clerk was subjected to sexually harassing conduct by a former Superior Court judge, including both physical touching and verbal harassment, creating a hostile work environment. The United States also alleged that the County negligently failed to take prompt and adequate action to stop the harassment. On October 26, 2021, the Court entered a consent decree resolving the case. The decree required Asotin County to offer the female deputy clerk $100,000 in compensatory damages. Asotin County also was required to designate individuals responsible for receiving and investigating employees’ complaints of harassment for the duration of the decree, maintain and adhere to a written policy addressing sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, and provide mandatory training regarding Title VII’s prohibitions against sex discrimination to all its employees. The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section brought the case in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.