ST. LOUIS (CN) - A federal jury awarded a woman at least $350,000 for her claims that a painter's union blackballed her after she complained of sexual harassment.
Lesa Dalton had sued Painters District Council No. 2 and Joseph Barrett, the union's former business manager. Dalton claimed the defendants took her name off of a work list and told employers not to hire her after she publicly accused Barrett of sexually harassing her.
The union denied the accusations and claimed Dalton's unemployment was based on the economy and other factors. Barrett denied sexually harassing Dalton.
It is not immediately clear how much Dalton will receive. She could get as much as $500,000 from the verdict, plus attorney's fees and front pay.
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