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CalVet Nurse wins $3.5 million in racial, sexual harassment lawsuit

by City News Service • May 12, 2023 12 Comments

[File]
A jury has awarded a former nurse $3.5 million in emotional distress damages in her lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully fired from her job at the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home in Lancaster in 2019 for complaining about sexual and racial harassment by a resident, who allegedly called her the “N-word.”

The Los Angeles Superior Court panel deliberated for about an hour on May 5 before finding in favor of plaintiff La’Terra Veal in her claims for sexual and racial harassment, failure to prevent harassment and retaliation.

Veal also maintained she was treated with suspicion by management and passed over for promotions because of her race. Hired in 2017, she endured sexual harassment and racial discrimination throughout her employment — that included being called the “N-word” and a “stupid Black (epithet)” by a resident — and was ultimately fired the next year in retaliation for her complaints, her suit stated. One of Veal’s harasser residents groped her breasts, stalked her around the facility on his scooter in order to limit her movement and waited for her in the parking lot when she arrived and departed, the suit states. Veal allegedly so feared the man that she called upon co-workers and security guards to help shield her.

Veal was so afraid of the harassing resident that she suffered panic attacks while at work, her court papers stated. When she reported her concerns to management, she was told that residents have rights and that enduring racist and sexual harassment from them “was an expected and tolerated part of working in the facility,” Veal’s curt papers stated. The stress from the ongoing harassment, and management’s alleged indifference, caused Veal to have a miscarriage while she was at work, her court papers stated.

The agency maintained Veal was fired for legitimate reasons and that the state Department of Social Services, which licenses CalVet, had informed them that Veal could not be physically present at the facility due to a March 2019 misdemeanor criminal conviction that was dismissed in November 2020.

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Filed Under: Home, Lancaster

12 comments for "CalVet Nurse wins $3.5 million in racial, sexual harassment lawsuit"

  1. Tom says

    May 16, 2023 at 9:30 am

    It is sad, but if you’re a nurse you know you are going to be harassed, called names, groped. I sadly can’t support the award amount given. She knew what she was getting into picking this career, especially working in a VA facility. Thats like a dog catcher thinking he will never step in dog crap. Crap happens we can’t award everyone millions for doing their jobs.

    Reply
    • Tim Scott says

      May 17, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      While your observations on how nurses are treated by patients are sadly accurate, there is no excuse to be made for the employer. If your response to an employee reporting a physical assault is “too bad, get back in there” you are going to get sued, and rightfully so.

      Reply
    • Rosie says

      May 18, 2023 at 7:44 am

      Opinions like yours are the reason nurses and healthcare staff are quitting left and right. They went into the field to help, not to be abused by those they care for. You’re excusing a man’s sexual misconduct just because he’s a vet? Disgusting. No one should have to put up with abuse. It may happen, but management should be firm and do everything they can to protect staff. She deserves the money she was awarded. This just shows that you think disgusting behavior such as that man’s is ok and that you will probably do the same and make the same excuses. Do better.

      Reply
    • Lina says

      May 18, 2023 at 5:14 pm

      To bad they shouldn’t force anybody to get what they don’t want in their bodies suck it up.

      Reply
    • Lae says

      May 22, 2023 at 2:44 pm

      nah pal, it should never EVER be tolerated in any job. i’m sure you’d change your tune if this happened to you or one of your family members

      such a disgusting take. do better.

      Reply
    • Mike says

      May 23, 2023 at 5:44 am

      Wow.
      A racist veteran?
      Who knew?
      Let’s give them more benefits. Maybe that will make them happy and they’ll tone down the racism.

      Reply
  2. Sheral says

    May 15, 2023 at 9:09 am

    This abuse has been condoned by Calvet Lancaster for years. The current administrator Elvie hides everything and does not care about employees or residents, only her “political” ideas.

    Reply
  3. Really? says

    May 15, 2023 at 8:54 am

    Will someone please call me a $3.5 million dollar bad word? I’d like to suffer that way too.

    Reply
    • Lae says

      May 22, 2023 at 2:47 pm

      it wasn’t just the racial harassment, but even if it were, it wasn’t just one incident – it was many. no one should be verbally abused, even by so-called veterans

      Reply
  4. ACE says

    May 13, 2023 at 3:51 pm

    GIVE HER MILLIONS –

    POOR WOMAN –

    JUST IMAGINE –

    ***

    Reply
  5. Frank Rizzo says

    May 13, 2023 at 6:43 am

    Hurt feelings lawsuits. Lol

    Reply
    • Lae says

      May 22, 2023 at 2:48 pm

      it wasn’t just hurt feelings. she was assaulted by a resident then fired after she reported it

      Reply

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