Corrections Department To Pay $50K in Sexual Harassment Suit

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a sexual harassment complaint filed on behalf of a cook at a youth facility.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that it reached the agreement with the state.

The complaint, filed in July, alleges that Joe Cummings was sexually harassed by a female co-worker at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility and says the department failed to end the harassment quickly.

If a federal judge approves the settlement, Cummings will be paid for damages and will get back the leave days he used to avoid the harasser.

The complaint says his co-worker made frequent unwanted sexual advances for more than a year. Cummings and other employees said they complained repeatedly, without result.