Deaf worker sues meat company

Miss-Delectable · 07-25-2006, 09:59 PM

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/072506...D0Q5.033.shtml

Woman says she lost two fingers as a result of sexual harassment

A deaf employee of Cargill Meat Solutions is suing the company, saying two of her fingers were severed in a meat-skinning machine as the result of persistent sexual harassment by a male co-worker.

Kimberly Wallis of Virginia says managers did too little to stop the harassment or accommodate her disability at meetings about her complaints.

Wallis, 30, lost the thumb and a finger on her left hand when it became caught in the machine on Sept. 28, 2005. The thumb was reattached but is useless, according to the suit.

She said she remains on disability because of the incident.

She wears a hearing aid in her left ear but is profoundly deaf, according to the suit. She communicates through lip reading, sign language and speech.

Wallis began working for the pork-processing plant in Beardstown in March 2004.

In May 2005, she was promoted to the meat skinning line. Workers process meat through high-speed cutting machines.

In July 2005 an employee was assigned to Wallis' team and "engaged in a course of ... unwelcome and sexually offensive conduct" toward Wallis on a daily basis, the suit says.

The lawsuit says if Wallis ignored the man, he would grab her hands, throw meat or refuse to rotate machines as required.

Wallis repeatedly complained to a supervisor, the suit says. After a month she talked to another supervisor, who escorted her to a third supervisor. The lawsuit says the two supervisors discussed the problem but did not provide a sign interpreter. She could not understand everything they talked about.

Later that day, a supervisor called Wallis and the co-worker into his office. He told the man of her complaint and said he was going to write a report, according to the lawsuit. She could not understand everything the two men said.

The supervisor allegedly told her the harassment would stop.

On Sept. 28, the co-worker made more remarks to Wallis, and she ignored him, she recounted in the lawsuit. The man began throwing meat at her.

Wallis called over a supervisor in training from another line and during the argument became distracted. Her hand was caught in the cutting machine, which severed her thumb and a finger, the suit says.

The suit, filed July 13 in U.S. District Court in Springfield, alleges Cargill discriminated against her because of her sex and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. She seeks at least $300,000 in damages.

Cargill's corporate office in Minnesota did not return messages seeking comment.

GraysonPeddie · 07-25-2006, 10:40 PM

Man--oh boy...I feel so sorry for Wallis. I can't believe Cargill Meat Solutions discriminated her and it's a good thing she filed a lawsuit; thus I agree with her.

God bless to Wallis...

07-26-2006, 12:18 AM

It is a good thing she is suing the meat company but ..... I would hit them with a multi-million lawsuit though if Iwas in her shoes. I am a man but you get the point. Million dollars are much, much better than $300,000

07-25-2006, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 3	Deaf worker sues meat company http://www.pjstar.com/stories/072506...D0Q5.033.shtml Woman says she lost two fingers as a result of sexual harassment A deaf employee of Cargill Meat Solutions is suing the company, saying two of her fingers were severed in a meat-skinning machine as the result of persistent sexual harassment by a male co-worker. Kimberly Wallis of Virginia says managers did too little to stop the harassment or accommodate her disability at meetings about her complaints. Wallis, 30, lost the thumb and a finger on her left hand when it became caught in the machine on Sept. 28, 2005. The thumb was reattached but is useless, according to the suit. She said she remains on disability because of the incident. She wears a hearing aid in her left ear but is profoundly deaf, according to the suit. She communicates through lip reading, sign language and speech. Wallis began working for the pork-processing plant in Beardstown in March 2004. In May 2005, she was promoted to the meat skinning line. Workers process meat through high-speed cutting machines. In July 2005 an employee was assigned to Wallis' team and "engaged in a course of ... unwelcome and sexually offensive conduct" toward Wallis on a daily basis, the suit says. The lawsuit says if Wallis ignored the man, he would grab her hands, throw meat or refuse to rotate machines as required. Wallis repeatedly complained to a supervisor, the suit says. After a month she talked to another supervisor, who escorted her to a third supervisor. The lawsuit says the two supervisors discussed the problem but did not provide a sign interpreter. She could not understand everything they talked about. Later that day, a supervisor called Wallis and the co-worker into his office. He told the man of her complaint and said he was going to write a report, according to the lawsuit. She could not understand everything the two men said. The supervisor allegedly told her the harassment would stop. On Sept. 28, the co-worker made more remarks to Wallis, and she ignored him, she recounted in the lawsuit. The man began throwing meat at her. Wallis called over a supervisor in training from another line and during the argument became distracted. Her hand was caught in the cutting machine, which severed her thumb and a finger, the suit says. The suit, filed July 13 in U.S. District Court in Springfield, alleges Cargill discriminated against her because of her sex and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. She seeks at least $300,000 in damages. Cargill's corporate office in Minnesota did not return messages seeking comment. __________________

07-25-2006, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
GraysonPeddie Eye/Hear/Speech Impaired Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL 32310 Posts: 923	Man--oh boy...I feel so sorry for Wallis. I can't believe Cargill Meat Solutions discriminated her and it's a good thing she filed a lawsuit; thus I agree with her. God bless to Wallis... __________________ ASL Tutorials: http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/page...t/concepts.htm www.lessontutor.com/ASLgenhome.html ASL Grammar: http://daphne.palomar.edu/kstruxness...les%201-06.pdf ASL Browser: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/signs.htm www.aslpro.com

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07-26-2006, 12:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
JohnnyE Guest Posts: n/a	It is a good thing she is suing the meat company but ..... I would hit them with a multi-million lawsuit though if Iwas in her shoes. I am a man but you get the point. Million dollars are much, much better than $300,000