A lawsuit against a Michigan trucking company claims that the company allowed an executive to harass female employees for multiple years.
The lawsuit was filed on September 25th against Davis Cartage Co. in Shiawassee County, Michigan.
According to M Live, the suit alleges that the trucking company did nothing to stop inappropriate behavior by President of Logistics Timothy Ryan despite complaints, creating a hostile work environment for women employed at Owosso and Corunna locations. The suit seeks damages for affected employees and court-ordered workplace reform. The complaint cites unwanted sexual comments and advances dating back to 2016.
David Cartage Co. President Glen Merkel says that the company has investigated the claims and believes they are false.
The suit details how Ryan passed over more qualified job applicants in favor of young female applicants with photos posted publicly on social media. Ryan also allegedly frequently commented on the appearance and dress of the women he hired, told them that they owed him for hiring them despite criminal histories, invited them to his personal cabin, watched them through cameras, and leaned in too close during interactions.
“Employers cannot prioritize protecting a company executive over protecting its employees from sexual harassment,” said Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the Indianapolis District Office, in a news release. “Davis Cartage’s decision to ignore the president of logistics’ behavior and allow him to continue to harass female employees working for him violated federal law.”
The company reportedly investigated a complaint from a female employee back in 2020, but did not take any action as a result of the investigation.
