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Letter to the editor

Diversity cases hit Florida courts

By Times staff writer
Published October 28, 2007

Companies can try all they want to create workplaces that are fair in opportunity to a diverse range of employees. But the best intentions, the best training and the best leadership cannot guarantee human behavior. Consider this recent sampling of lawsuits involving Florida and area businesses. When it comes to corporate diversity, courts remain busy:

-Women sue Raymond James Financial: Three former women employees sued the St. Petersburg financial firm last month in federal court claiming they were paid less than men, passed over for promotions, denied opportunities for training and subjected to sexual harassment. The lawsuit seeks class action status. Raymond James calls the complaints "wholly unjustified" and said it is committed to diversity and nondiscrimination.

-United HealthCare of Florida settles for $1.8-million: The health insurer agreed this month to pay to settle a lawsuit alleging that a male executive subjected another male executive to repeated verbal sexual harassment in Sunrise in South Florida. United HealthCare also must distribute a new antiharassment policy to all of its employees in Florida. United HealthCare was willing to settle but denies the allegations.

-Progress Energy Florida sued: Apprentice lineman Jared Moren says a male co-worker at St. Petersburg's Progress Energy Florida posted placards falsely claiming that he was gay, taunted him and threatened murder when Moren stuck up for himself. Progress fired the harasser, but Moren quit when another worker retaliated. He sued the company last month.

-Hispanic sues Nordstrom: A federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit filed in South Florida claims a manager at two Nordstrom stores in Palm Beach County harassed Gloria Pimental, who is Hispanic, and other "similarly situated individuals" based on national origin, race and color, and that the company failed to take prompt action. Nordstrom said it will "vigorously defend" itself.

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 14:20:00]