Workplace Harassment & Discrimination

Illegal Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace.

Federal and/or state laws protect employees from illegal harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Jeff Anderson & Associates has a strong history of advocacy in the area of protecting the rights of employees. Our employment litigation group represents individual employees in cases involving workplace discrimination, harassment, termination, retaliation based on an employee's reporting of an employer's misconduct (whistleblowing) and other employment-related matters.

a. Discrimination

Federal and state law provides that it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation or age.

b. Harassment

Employers may be liable for a hostile work environment created by the illegal harassment of an employee on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation or age. Jeff Anderson & Associates has successfully represented employees who were victims of sexual harassment, same-sex harassment, harassment on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, age and religion.

c. Whistleblower

Employees have the right to report their employers' misconduct or illegal activity to the employer's management, or to outside agencies, such as law enforcement officials, without fear of retaliation by the employer. Employees who have reported their employers' misconduct and have suffered an adverse employment action from their employer, such as discipline or termination, may be considered "whistleblowers" under Minnesota law.

d. Reprisal

It is also illegal for an employer to retaliate against any employee because that person reported discrimination or harassment in the workplace, filed charges of discrimination or harassment, or participated in an investigation into claims of discrimination or harassment. Jeff Anderson & Associates has successfully assisted employees with reprisal claims against their employers who illegally retaliated against the employees.

If you feel you have been discriminated against or harassed in the workplace, contact us.

Our Successes

Jones v. Yellow Freight Systems, Inc., (State of Minnesota, Dakota County District Court File No. 19-C7-98-7880, unpublished appellate decision at 2000 WL 1052167). Jeff Anderson represented an employee in a same-sex harassment case against his employer resulting in the highest same-sex harassment award in the State of Minnesota, including $1.7 million in compensatory damages. The district court's award of $1.09 million for same-sex harassment was affirmed on appeal, although $650,000 awarded by the jury was reversed as duplicative.

Fields, et. al. v. Minneapolis Police Recruitment System [and 36 Member Municipalities], (State of Minnesota, Hennepin County District Court File EM93-00219, unpublished appellate decision at 1998 WL 40507). Jeff Anderson represented African-American police officers in a racial discrimination case resulting in a verdict finding systematic illegal discrimination in the screening and recruitment of police officers.

Ley, et. al. v. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Brand, et. al. v. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, (State of Minnesota, Ramsey County District Court File No. C2-92-11759, unpublished appellate opinions at 1995 WL 365472 (Ley) and 1996 WL 363401 (Brand)). Jeff Anderson represented several employees in an age discrimination lawsuit against their employer, the Archdiocese, resulting in a verdict of $1.4 million in compensatory damages.

Kalina, et al. v. Feldmann Motors, (District of Minnesota, U.S. District Court File Nos. 97-945 (Kalina); 97-946 (Soliday); 97-947 (Doescher); 97-948 (Lichtenfeld); and State of Minnesota, Hennepin County District Court File No. EM 97-4712 (Jones)). Jeff Anderson was co-counsel representing five women in sex harassment and discrimination cases against their employer, an automobile dealership, which resulted in settlements on behalf of the plaintiffs.

Novotny-Young, et. al. v. The Stroh Brewery Company, (State of Minnesota, Ramsey County District Court File No. C1-92-1336). Jeff Anderson were co-counsel in a sexual harassment lawsuit representing female employees of a brewery, which resulted in a settlement on behalf of the plaintiffs.

Mems, et. al. v. City of St. Paul Fire Department, (State of Minnesota, Ramsey County District Court File No. C5-92-5227). Jeff Anderson represented several African-American firefighters in a race discrimination case against the City of St. Paul, resulting in a settlement which included changing the City's promotional exam.

Fouzia Mohamed v. Postmaster General, (EEOC Case No. 260-A1-9015X). Jeff Anderson represented a postal service employee in a religion and national origin discrimination case after she was sent home for wearing the clothing required by her religion and culture, resulting in a settlement which included changes in the postal service's policies to allow traditional clothing in the workplace.

Awale Raghe v. Kinseth Hospitality Co., (State of Minnesota, Hennepin County District Court File No. EM-00-0014081). Patrick Noaker represented a Somali immigrant who was discharged from his job because of his foreign accent, resulting in a settlement on behalf of the employee.

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