$283,549 to Jail Guard in Retaliation Suit
by Christopher Zoukis
A captain at the Coastal Bend Detention Center in Texas was awarded $283,549 in damages against the private prison company LCS Corrections Services, Inc. on May 21, 2013.
Captain William O. Soto alleged in his lawsuit that he assisted a female co-worker with filing a sexual harassment suit against LCS. Soon after helping the woman with her claim, he was subjected to a hostile work environment. Soto claimed that he was ultimately placed on administrative leave, and constructively fired, in retaliation for his protected actions.
On April 30, 2012, Soto sued LCS in federal court for retaliation. A trial was held, and the jury found for Soto. He was awarded $50,000 in back pay plus $150,000 in punitive damages. Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos added $42,924 in front pay plus $40,625 in attorneys' fees, for a total of $283,549.
Case: Soto v. LCS Correctional Services, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Case No. 2:12-cv-00130 (May 21, 2013).
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