City of Duncanville Loses EEOC Sexual Harassment Case

The city of Duncanville recently hired a new public works director to replace the one (Earl Grody) accused of groping, slapping and sexually harassing a former co-worker, Debra Carlson (who is now the Libertarian Party nominee for Dallas County judge, by the way.)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal agency, and Carlson was subjected to massive levels of harassment that ultimately led to --- though for an unrelated matter --- the firing of the offending public works director (Grody.)

From the Nov. 19, 2009 blog post:

Duncanville Service Center Should Be the Real ‘Cherry Pit’

Earl Grody was recently fired from the City of Duncanville for reportedly wrecking another city-owned vehicle, but count it as a measure that was meant to unload a huge liability.

Duncanville was nailed with a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint by former Duncanville Service Center (water/sewer/etc department) employee Debra Carlson after she complained – repeatedly, to no avail – to higher-ups with the City of Duncanville.

Wonder if that’s why City Manager Kent Cagle is looking for employment elsewhere?

Carlson filed all sorts of allegations against the city. In the Personal Harm section of the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division complaint form, she states:

• I have been invited to join Earl Grody and his wife at Swingers parties.
• Earl Grody grabbed my hair pulling my head up and down, mimicking oral sex. Earl Grody stated “this is how he steers his women.”
• I was repeatedly questioned about my sexual preference.
• I was physically slapped on the butt.
• I was physically held up against a wall and Earl Grody grinded his butt up against me.

Carlson also alleged that every time a Duncanville Service Center employee would see a woman in public (they did this while driving around to and from projects in the city), they would always comment on how they would be “sluts,” and “whores,” and “I wonder if her dad taught her the facts of life.”

Such a professional organization. Classy, Duncanville. Classy.

In Carlson’s pre-employment interview with Duncanville, she alleged three supervisors of warning her of the sexual harassment nature that would ensue should she get the job. Those three who told her she’d have to get used to the sexual atmosphere and “putting up with sexual language and hazing” were: Ryan Shelley; Mike Meyers and Grody.

Greg Weaver, the city’s personnel director, told Carlson while questioning her on her sexual harassment claims that, “we know, we know that part of your job was going to entail…[this type of treatment.]”

Grody later admitted to doing all of the things alleged and apologized.

I’ll let Carlson get on here and post more of the details. Talk about an amazing case. While still living in New Hampshire and visiting for the May city/school elections, I met up with Carlson for the first time and discussed this entire ordeal with her.

Begs the question of where’s ex-District 3 Councilman Paul Ford to bring this up to the city council when you need him? Man…

See Also: City of Duncanville reportedly deleting emails and documents in related case

Flashback:

New information today regarding the City of Duncanville and City employee Earl Grody, water foreman for City of Duncanville, Joel Daugherty, superintendent of Water, Waste Water and I&I department at the City Service Center, located at 330 Shady Trail, Duncanville, along with various others, have been named in charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, aka EEOC. The EEOC is the Federal Agency that investigates and looks into claims that employers have discriminated against their employees because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. The charges filed against the City of Duncanville include charges of sexual harassment including a sexually hostile work environment, discrimination, and retaliation. It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against former or present employees because they have made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this law or because they opposed any practice made unlawful by the statutes. The City of Duncanville will have to be held accountable sooner of later for their actions and for whom they put in charge of their city. It looks like it’s going to be sooner than later!

he City Of Duncanville has "conveniently" released from employment the main person involved in the charges against the City who allowed this type of behavior to go unchecked and allowed. Originally the perpetrator of the most offensive behavior, Earl Grody, was to be fired for being involved in apparently a 4th incident in which he had a driving accident involving a city vehicle in less than 6 years. That's a vehicular accident approximately once every 18 months or so. His last vehicle accident involved him totaling a city vehicle by colliding with a PARKED CAR!! Sources state that when informed of his pending termination he requested to be allowed to resign without cause. So that of course means that he is able to have a favorable termination, keep his retirement, etc.. I know the City of Duncanville realized the liability Mr. Grody represented to them and welcomed the opportunity to relieve them of that liability. Regardless, the City of Duncanville along with Mr. Grody, Mr. Joel Daugherty along with City Officials who not only knew of the discrimination and harrassment but condoned it will not got through this that easily. Just because Mr. Grody is no longer an employee that does not relieve any of the parties involved of their responsibility to follow and implement Federal Law. Updates to follow..........