Jury Awards $3.5 Million To Ex-D.C. Lifeguard

Carmen Jean-Baptiste says she was fired for reporting sexual harassment

A federal jury in the District of Columbia has awarded $3.5 million to a former public pool lifeguard who says she was sexually harassed by a supervisor.

Carmen Jean-Baptiste says she was fired from her job at the Takoma Aquatic Center in 2006 after reporting the harassment to multiple supervisors.

She says the firing, which included sexually suggestive comments, came in retaliation for her complaints.

The jury returned the verdict Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington.

Jurors also presented the judge with a set of recommendations, including that the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation review its sexual harassment policies for employees and train them on preventing the problem and better responding to a complaint.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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