A major sexual assault lawsuit filed against a California branch of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) by a former employee has reached a settlement agreement. According to the sexual assault lawsuit, the plaintiff, Mindy S., was subjected to a number of incidents of sexual harassment and assault, and that this was an issue that many women employees had experienced.

Mindy S. alleges that Marcus Hatcher, the director of the SEIU United Healthcare Workers (UHW) West’s Kaiser division, physically and sexually assaulted her and left her with a head injury, leading her to seek medical attention. Mindy further claims that she believes Hatcher had put something in her drink, causing her to blackout and become sick.

Mindy also accuses Dave Regan, the SEIU-UHW president, of sexual misconduct, as well as retaliation for reporting it. She claims in her lawsuit that instead of taking her report seriously, Regan who, as the SEIU-UHW’s president, was responsible for investigating these kinds of claims, retaliated by verbally abusing her in front of her coworkers, according to a report from Payday Report, which first broke the news of the settlement. Mindy also cites an anonymous threatening phone call, over which she filed a police report.

Mindy’s sexual harassment lawsuit went into more than just this one incident, with several affidavits from former SEIU-UHW employees that detailed a workplace culture brimming with misogyny and sexual harassment.

Indeed, the lawsuit was brought against SEIU Vice President Dave Regan, who serves as the head of the UHW, and most of the affidavits allege misconduct by Regan and SEIU-UHW Vice President Stan Lyles.

SEIU spokesperson Steve Trossman called these characterizations unfair and inaccurate.

This sexual assault lawsuit also alleges that SEIU-UHW knowingly hired organizers who had been accused of sexual misconduct within the union.

The settlement announcement came just a few days before the case was set to go to trial. A settlement agreement brings an end to the lawsuit’s claims while not deciding in liability in the matter.

After Mindy reported the incident with Hatcher and an investigation was conducted, Hatcher was fired in November of 2017. He was reportedly fired for violating SEIU’s non-fraternization policy, but notably was not disciplined specifically for the alleged physical and sexual assault.

Trossman noted that the union has no plans to discipline either Regan or Lyles. In fact, both are campaigning for reelection to their respective union posts. However, the organization has reportedly been prompted to conduct an overhaul of its sexual harassment policies.

Filing a Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Sexual abuse, assault, and harassment can happen anywhere, including within trusted organizations including a place of work, college campuses, and more, and can be committed by anyone, including authority figures or friends.

More and more victims are speaking out about their own experiences. Victims are filing lawsuits not only against their abusers, but also against any organizations that they claim allowed the abuse to take place, or even actively covered up the abuse.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual abuse or assault, even if that abuse took place years or decades ago, you may be able to join this lawsuit investigation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.