A jury in Brooklyn, NY, has awarded a dock worker US$60,000 in punitive damages following his being banned from work after complaining about being groped.
A US jury has awarded a Brooklyn dock worker US$60,000 in damages after he was banished from the pier on which he worked. Michael Sabella’s former employer, American Stevedore, banned him from the Red Hook pier for complaining that his male supervisor had groped him.
Sabella also accused Louis Pernice, the president of the Longshoremen’s Association, of failing to protect his rights, of which he was cleared by the jury. They failed to conclude whether Sabella was subjected to a hostile work environment as a consequence of the alleged groping.
“I am very happy that the jury found in my favour against ASI. However, I am surprised that although they heard that the union sabotaged my grievance, they let them off the hook," Sabella said.
Sabella also accused Louis Pernice, the president of the Longshoremen’s Association, of failing to protect his rights, of which he was cleared by the jury. They failed to conclude whether Sabella was subjected to a hostile work environment as a consequence of the alleged groping.
“I am very happy that the jury found in my favour against ASI. However, I am surprised that although they heard that the union sabotaged my grievance, they let them off the hook," Sabella said.
