Judge denies testimony of 15 females in CRST sexual harassment trial

[Maria]

A federal judge denied the motion to allow the testimony of 15 former CRST female truck drivers at the trial of another female driver, who claims the Cedar Rapids, IA, company failed to provide her with a workplace free of sexual harassment.

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade ruled on Monday, Jan. 29, that testimony from the 15 female drivers would not be allowed because they did not have the same male trainer or dispatcher as the plaintiff, Monika Starke. The judge said their testimony might cause “unfair prejudice and confusion of the issues.”

Starke claims she was forced to stay on the truck after reporting to her dispatcher that her male trainer was sexually harassing her back in 2005.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission planned to introduce the witnesses, who also claim they complained about sexual harassment by male trainers, at Starke’s trial in an effort to show the trucking company failed to provide a workplace free of sexual harassment.

In 2007, the EEOC filed a class action lawsuit that included 270 drivers against CRST. However, in 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit ruled the agency must investigate each driver’s claim and seek a process to resolve each dispute before a class action lawsuit could be filed.

source

 

[Injun]

I'd be interested to see what all these ladies are calling "sexual harassment" and when they decided they were being harassed.

The male team member stripping down to his boxers before climbing into the other rack is not it. Him having a hot conversation with his ol lady within earshot of the female team member isn't it either.

But some broads think it is.

 

[Picnic]

I'd be interested to see what all these ladies are calling "sexual harassment" and when they decided they were being harassed. The male team member stripping down to his boxers before climbing into the other rack is not it. Him having a hot conversation with his ol lady within earshot of the female team member isn't it either. But some broads think it is.

It seems that since all people are different, what may offend one person, may not offend the person standing next to them. I sure they must have some type of guide lines to follow. Being in such a confined area for training purposes, it seems that just the situation its self could cause problems with some.

I know when I was self employed I tried to sue the company for sexual harassment but the owner never showed up for court. p.s. My pm's are back on.

 

[Injun]

We had a lady on a different forum when I first showed up there. She's been in here a couple of times. She liked to say her trainer sexually harassed her the entiretime and continues to do so today.

Then she says oh, wait....he's my husband....

One of her favorite jokes.



I had a male trainer. He was the perfect gentleman. In fact, he heaved a huge sigh of relief when I told him first day out I was not there for hanky-panky. I was there to train and I would behave professionally the whole time, and expected no less from him.

Apparently, the women he had trained prior to me were the problem.

 

[Racer X 69]

At the power company sexual harassment in the workplace was a big deal. The company spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on training, to ensure that employees were clear on what was acceptable, and what was not. Still, issues arose. In the shop, we had always had something on the inside of our locker doors, i.e. a pinup, or something sexually suggestive. Even though women were never in the men's locker room, we were forced to remove everything. Even if a guy had a picture of his woman in a bathing suit, it had to go.

We also were not allowed to discuss scenes from movies or TV shows. For instance, there was an episode of Seinfeld where the characters discussed female anatomy or some such. The word rhymed with "Doris". Someone was talking about it, and a woman who was walking by, not even part of the employee's conversation, overheard it. She filed a complaint. Several people were given time off without pay, and letters of reprimand were placed in their files.

Even conversations among just the "boys" could get one in trouble. There was a guy in our group who disliked oral sex, and we would tease him about it. He filed a complaint. One guy was actually fired over it.

Since going to work in the trucking business, I have noticed that trucking is one place where sexual equality is far behind the rest of our society. And men still get away with behavior that is not tolerated in other work situations.

So we have this situation with Crusty, and their "trainer". Now I have known many men who are complete assholes when it comes to how to behave around women. If some guys are placed in a situation like the one in this article, they will take advantage of the situation and actually push to see just how far they can go.

I think that may be what has happened. This jerk figured he could get away with demanding "favors" from the woman, as he was in a position of authority over her. I bet that he felt that she wouldn't dare speak out against him, because he could simply say that she was doing very poorly and made it all up.

And in an effort to present their case, the counsel for this woman has brought forward other women who have been convinced to come forward and speak out about their experiences. I find it troubling that a woman judge is not allowing the testimony. In doing so, this judge is tilting the the scales of justice in favor of the man, who would not be in the hot seat if he had exercised some discretion and behaved like a gentleman, instead of a pig.

 

[Tim]

And in an effort to present their case, the counsel for this woman has brought forward other women who have been convinced to come forward and speak out about their experiences. I find it troubling that a woman judge is not allowing the testimony. In doing so, this judge is tilting the the scales of justice in favor of the man, who would not be in the hot seat if he had exercised some discretion and behaved like a gentleman, instead of a pig.

The judge did the right thing......none of the other 15 woman were in the the truck at any given point with Crusty the Clown.

 

[Racer X 69]

The judge did the right thing......none of the other 15 woman were in the the truck at any given point with Crusty the Clown.

Heh, heh, heh, heh! Hey kids!

View attachment 19585View attachment 19586
View attachment 19585View attachment 19586

 

[Rigjockey]

I think the testimony of the other 15 ladies would prejudice the case, They where not there, not the same trainer. If the other 15 ladies want pursue their own litigation then they should proceed on their own.

I have no idea if a sexual harassment occurred. The judge and jury will not know if sexual harassment occurred. I don't know if either parties know if sexual harassment occurred. What one would think harassment another may not.

The interpretation of the law will be applied. Not justice. It is a legal system and not a justice system.

 

[nightriderlisa]

I have had a male trainer tell dispatch that I was having trouble driving because I wouldn't marry him. Not to mention all of the sexual advances I had to fight off. They put me with a female driver and she told dispatch that I was a good driver.

I have had a different male trainer remove the shelf/step to climb up on the top bunk. He wanted to lift me up every time... When I bought cases of water to stack them up to step on them, he got mad and said no, the only way I would be able to get up there was for him to help me. He looked for any excuse to touch me... He later asked me to marry him. He liked to be naked in the sleeper and stand on the step and pee. He would lay in his bunk saying how he wished he had somebody to give him a massage.

I recently had a contractor attack me in the Fed Ex yard. It was too brutal to go into detail right now, and traumatized me more than I would have thought it would have. I almost did not report it because the other times that I had reported other incidents with other employers in the past were met with a good ol boy attitude. Fed Ex did a wonderful job in supporting me and one of the police officers that was involved made me feel that it was ok to speak up.

I have had to drive down the road while pushing hands away from my butt and boobs, and I have had to keep saying no when being pulled into a sleeper. This stuff happens and it is real. And honestly, it is not funny.

 

[Rigjockey]

I have had a male trainer tell dispatch that I was having trouble driving because I wouldn't marry him. Not to mention all of the sexual advances I had to fight off. They put me with a female driver and she told dispatch that I was a good driver.

I have had a different male trainer remove the shelf/step to climb up on the top bunk. He wanted to lift me up every time... When I bought cases of water to stack them up to step on them, he got mad and said no, the only way I would be able to get up there was for him to help me. He looked for any excuse to touch me... He later asked me to marry him. He liked to be naked in the sleeper and stand on the step and pee. He would lay in his bunk saying how he wished he had somebody to give him a massage.

I recently had a contractor attack me in the Fed Ex yard. It was too brutal to go into detail right now, and traumatized me more than I would have thought it would have. I almost did not report it because the other times that I had reported other incidents with other employers in the past were met with a good ol boy attitude. Fed Ex did a wonderful job in supporting me and one of the police officers that was involved made me feel that it was ok to speak up.

I have had to drive down the road while pushing hands away from my butt and boobs, and I have had to keep saying no when being pulled into a sleeper. This stuff happens and it is real. And honestly, it is not funny.

I am very sorry for you experience. Terrible! Horrible! I am very sure it is real.

I think no women should endure that. I think the men on here would find that behavior deplorable. I believe it is real!

i am very certain no one here finds it funny.

 

[Injun]

That sort of behavior is absolutely over the line and unacceptable.

But some women use the law as a club. That is real, too.

 

[DubbleD]

I have had a male trainer tell dispatch that I was having trouble driving because I wouldn't marry him. Not to mention all of the sexual advances I had to fight off. They put me with a female driver and she told dispatch that I was a good driver.

I have had a different male trainer remove the shelf/step to climb up on the top bunk. He wanted to lift me up every time... When I bought cases of water to stack them up to step on them, he got mad and said no, the only way I would be able to get up there was for him to help me. He looked for any excuse to touch me... He later asked me to marry him. He liked to be naked in the sleeper and stand on the step and pee. He would lay in his bunk saying how he wished he had somebody to give him a massage.

I recently had a contractor attack me in the Fed Ex yard. It was too brutal to go into detail right now, and traumatized me more than I would have thought it would have. I almost did not report it because the other times that I had reported other incidents with other employers in the past were met with a good ol boy attitude. Fed Ex did a wonderful job in supporting me and one of the police officers that was involved made me feel that it was ok to speak up.

I have had to drive down the road while pushing hands away from my butt and boobs, and I have had to keep saying no when being pulled into a sleeper. This stuff happens and it is real. And honestly, it is not funny.

I too am outraged by this behavior!

I wish I had a solution but all I can offer is assistance if someone calls out.

 

[Racer X 69]

I wish I had a solution but all I can offer is assistance if someone calls out.

Anytime that you witness this type of behavior you can speak out to the person and let them know that you see it and that it is unacceptable.

Give the guy a swift kick in the nuts for being a jerk.

 

[boone315]

I don't know, kind of like working with bees then being surprised when you get stung. Kind of have to expect it. They sue when they can't get into a truck on time because of a lack of female trainers then they sue when they get put in a truck with a man.

 

[Injun]

So, what's your solution, [MENTION=2662]boone315[/MENTION]?

Eliminate women from the industry?

Force women to train other women?

Eliminate laws protecting everyone from situations [MENTION=8561]nightriderlisa[/MENTION] described?


(BTW...good to see you back...)

 

[Picnic]

[MENTION=8561]nightriderlisa[/MENTION]

I think it was absurd for what you had to go through. I am the youngest out of 4 boys and I can remember my Mother setting all her sons down at one time and giving us the following advice. This was over 45 years ago. At the time, I did not know what she meant. It is stories like yours, which makes me remember how Wise, my Mother truly was.

This is what she said. “Listen to what I am going to tell you and never forget it. All men are pigs. It is in your nature. It is ok to be a little pig but never become a big pig. Little pigs can be tolerated and most of them are cute. Big pigs wind up at the slaughter house”.

It was after this statement she simply got up and walked away. When I asked her about it, she replied that I would find out, as I grew older. She was right, I did. She never would tell me what brought the story on. The guy you are describing is a BIG PIG. A REAL oo: HEAD!

Now with that being said, this is what happened to my wife, our Granddaughter, and myself two weeks ago, at a restaurant in D.C. It deals with this very issue. I made an mp3 to explain how doing the right thing, sometimes has its rewards. You can click here to listen to it. The mp3 file carries your Forum Name.

 

[stonefly]

Some things just aren't right, like pressing men and women who do not know each other into living together, 24/7, under the stressful conditions of modern trucking.

 

[nightriderlisa]

I don't know, kind of like working with bees then being surprised when you get stung. Kind of have to expect it. They sue when they can't get into a truck on time because of a lack of female trainers then they sue when they get put in a truck with a man.

I don't sue when I get put in a truck with a man. I just don't like.when the lonely old fool doesn't keep his hands to himself. I can be on a truck with anyone and be professional. A grown man should be able to do the same. Not like expecting to be stung at all. I shouldn't expect to be mailed everytime I get in a truck with a man. No offense, but that's a crazy comparison.

Now if I was ever in the truck with Bruce Springsteen and he smiled at me juuuust right, he might have cause to sue. And I would make it worth every penny. Short of that, ain't nobody out here worth disrespecting, or worth being disrespected by. Man or woman. Be professional at work. Period.

 

[nightriderlisa]

​

that was supposed to say mauled. Stupid smartphone.

 

[nightriderlisa]

[MENTION=8561]nightriderlisa[/MENTION]

I think it was absurd for what you had to go through. I am the youngest out of 4 boys and I can remember my Mother setting all her sons down at one time and giving us the following advice. This was over 45 years ago. At the time, I did not know what she meant. It is stories like yours, which makes me remember how Wise, my Mother truly was.

This is what she said. “Listen to what I am going to tell you and never forget it. All men are pigs. It is in your nature. It is ok to be a little pig but never become a big pig. Little pigs can be tolerated and most of them are cute. Big pigs wind up at the slaughter house”.

It was after this statement she simply got up and walked away. When I asked her about it, she replied that I would find out, as I grew older. She was right, I did. She never would tell me what brought the story on. The guy you are describing is a BIG PIG. A REAL oo: HEAD!

Now with that being said, this is what happened to my wife, our Granddaughter, and myself two weeks ago, at a restaurant in D.C. It deals with this very issue. I made an mp3 to explain how doing the right thing, sometimes has its rewards. You can click here to listen to it. The mp3 file carries your Forum Name.

Thank you.