MedicOne Medical Response to Pay $450,000 to Resolve Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit

Nashville, Tenn.—MedicOne, an operator of three ambulance services in Tennessee with  facilities in Mississippi and Illinois and headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas, will pay $450,000 and provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According to the EEOC, MedicOne violated federal law when it allowed supervisors and members of upper management to sexually harass several female paramedics and retaliated against a female paramedic by firing her for complaining about the sexually-hostile work environment.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans sex discrimination in the workplace and prohibits retaliation against employees who oppose sexual harassment. The EEOC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, (Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-00912), on October 22, 2020, after trying to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its voluntary pre-litigation conciliation process.

In addition to the monetary relief, a four-year consent decree requires that MedicOne revise its sexual harassment policy, distribute it to all employees, conduct annual training on sexual harassment in the workplace, and establish a toll-free number that employees can use to safely report workplace discrimination.

“Employers are responsible for creating a safe working environment for their employees,” said Faye Williams, regional attorney of the EEOC’s Memphis District Office. “We hope that this resolution sends a clear message that employers cannot tolerate sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace. We commend MedicOne for its commitment in taking substantial steps to create a safe working environment for its employees.”

Edmond Sims, acting director of the Memphis District Office said, “The Memphis District Office is pleased with the outcome of this case and will continue to vigorously advocate on behalf of sexual harassment victims. It is our hope that the message is clear, sexual harassment has no place in today's workplace.”

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information about the EEOC is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.