Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center, a critical access hospital in Elgin, North Dakota, violated federal law when it discharged an African American employee after she reported an incident of racial harassment, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, in May 2019, a nursing aide reported to Jacobson that a co-worker called her the “n-word.” Six days later, Jacobson fired her in retaliation for making her complaint. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who attempt to assert their right to report what they reasonably believe is discriminatory treatment. The EEOC sued in US District Court of North Dakota, Western Division after first trying to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The agency seeks back pay and compensatory damages on behalf of the terminated employee as well as an injunction against future discrimination.
