In a somewhat anti-climactic ending to what has been a landmark sexual harassment case, CRST Van Expedited has settled with former driver Monika Starke for the amount of $50,000. The company, one of the largest in the US, announced the settlement with EEOC-backed Starke on February 7th, allegedly to avoid the expense of a costly trial.
Starke is the only one out of the 270 female drivers who filed a joint class-action lawsuit in 2007 who was allowed a trial. For various legal reasons, including that the EEOC failed to conduct individual interviews with the women, all of the other claims were dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Linda Reade, who presided over the case, conceded that she threw out many potentially worth allegations by many women because the EEOC took a “sue first, ask questions later” litigation strategy. In fact, by the time the case was supposed to go to court, a deposition had been prepared for only 150 of the 270 women.
The mishandling of the first case by the EEOC was one of epic proportions. In addition to getting 269 out of 270 cases thrown out before even being heard, they were assigned to pay $4.5 million of CRST’s legal fees. The EEOC has put on a brave face with this trail, telling Land Line that in the agency’s view “the settlement was an equitable one.” The EEOC must have spent many times that amount in legal fees and salaries alone since the case has been active for over 5 years.
“This case has been a bad dream for the EEOC,” said Chicago lawyer Gerald Maatman, in an interview with ABC news. “Their position has been rejected pretty thoroughly and it’s created problems for them. And now employers are pressing this argument in other areas of the country.”
Regardless of how the EEOC may try to spin it, there are dozens of women who put their careers and reputations on the line, trying to do the courageous thing and take a stand, who were cheated of a well-deserved settlement.
Next Story: ATA: Crash Accountability System Is Broken
Source: fleetowner, landline, abcnews
BBQ Dave says
Congrats Stacey for standing up for your rights to work in an industry which has enough stress without what CRST tried to put you through. Good luck in the future getting work.
BBQ Dave says
I meant Monika
leavitttrucking says
Good for you Monika. The sexual harassment needs to stop. The company and drivers involved need to be punished.
Anonymous says
Good job in standing up for yourself!!! It’s a sad that the others cases were thrown out as I’m sure some if not all of them were legit!!!
Cass says
You have to have enough gumption to stand up for yourself if you are a woman and intend to drive in a industry that is predominately male. I got harassed by a male driver at CRST (well before this lawsuit) and I called CRST and told them and they removed him from my truck within the hour via sheriff department escort. If you are a female driver that looks even halfway pretty, you need to have a thick skin to even go into a truck stop because there is one in every crowd…. I have even had guys bug me while I was driving down the road. If you can’t handle it, you need to choose another profession.
Penny says
Great for one! That is too bad for the rest of the women to not be interviewed properly.
16 yrs in it says
No you don’t need thick skin you need to stop and think about where it is coming from . Easy come easy go & FYI The world is predomitaly female .FYI:)
Tim says
Um, excuse me, but did nobody read what that article said? It was about female drivers LOSING, not winning. CRST treats its female drivers with disrespect and gets off essentially scot free ($50K to just one out of the 270 drivers isn’t even a slap on the wrist to a company the size of CRST).
It’s not surprising that 270 brave women sticking up for their rights were no match against America’s corporate elite, but still, it would be interesting to know more about what exactly happened with this case, and why.
Doc Gallagher says
Good for you Cass, Thick skin is required in this industry for men and women, You handled it right and it was dealt with by the company In a swift, expedient manner , And hopefully to your satisfaction. Just because it is a large corporation doesn’t make them guilty, but it does make them a target for frivolous action by deviants. It is the EEOC that screwed up 270 cases, not the company. Believe me I am not a sycophant for large companies or corporations, Just sick of people attacking them because they are successful.
Jennifer says
Not only did the other women lose they are paying for CRST legal fees that’s so not right?
jon says
She should have known better to put her faith in government lawyers. She should have found a private one to take this case. This is what is wrong with a government bureaucracy that has grown so big and out of control that they think the mere thought of being gone after and sued by the government will immediately cow every business into submission and doing what they want. Arrogance on the part of the EEOC lost this one pure and simple.
jon says
btw: because all of the other charges were dismissed without trial does this mean that the women can not file again privately with competent lawyers?
Lee Barron says
I personally think women can make good drivers. Mental multi- tasking and attention to details is essential. Most women work long hours elewhere, especially in the home.
Lee Barron
Old guy says
Harassment & abuse of employees ,is wrong regardless if it is from management, other workers (drivers) , or customers. I’m lucky enough to drive for a Union company,with women drivers who are great drivers & fellow teamsters. The company I drive for is extremely anal about zero tolerance for sexual harassment of ANY kind. Hopefully CRST will also, think twice about allowing any abuse of their drivers to continue.
Al says
Trucking industry predominantly male not the world. Read comment again.
Slim2none says
I am so happy for her regardless of what anybody say…I am also a female driver and have been harrssed a few times myself,but it also is how you carry yourself out there that makes a big difference…some young women give men a signal that is ok to approach them etc..yes it is about having thick skin and also self respect for yourself also…
Davidsona says
and- the abuse trainees get from trainers ,black,white -vis versa ect. ect.men women get thrown off the truck without dispatcher intervention,every driver goes through it. CRST also has a plus 4 million bond in the courts for class action suits from other contract drivers complaints of profit loss or going in the hole ect. ect. The freight business is only ,-only about profit to the company ,drivers are completely expendable, yet the driver is the only person who moves the load from point a to point b many, many others make their cash on the drivers work on every load.
sweetie says
i was in training at crst. had a male trainer. first of al he didnt let me drived or teached me anything. then middle in the night when i was sleeping,he came to the sleeper and tried to touch me.he did that so many times. i told him to bring me back to the terminal.he did but also sayed when i tell them what happen who they will believe.me or him .i just walked off and quit the traing with them
overworked/underpaid says
Maybe the accused can walk across the street from their home terminal in iowa and get hired at westside transport, i hear they except anybody from crst.
Tammy says
I need help need information about Filing a Sexual Harassment Charges agents my Trainer wiling training for employment..
Mark says
No Jennifer…read the article again. The EEOC has to pay CRST’s legal fees, not the women involved.