Crawford v. Metropolitan Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TennesseeDavidson County, Tennessee

Vicky Crawford had Vicky Crawford had worked for Metro for worked for Metro for thirty years before thirty years before being fired after she being fired after she was questioned as a was questioned as a witness in an witness in an internal internal investigation of a investigation of a sexual harassment sexual harassment complaint. complaint.

The StatementThe Statement

Dr. Gene Hughes (The Director of Dr. Gene Hughes (The Director of Metro School District) was accused of Metro School District) was accused of inappropriate behaviors by Crawford inappropriate behaviors by Crawford and other employees.and other employees.

Crawford told the investigator of Metro Crawford told the investigator of Metro that Hughes had sexually harassed her that Hughes had sexually harassed her by grabbing his crotch, asking to see by grabbing his crotch, asking to see her breasts, and pulling her head to his her breasts, and pulling her head to his crotch. crotch.

The ResultThe Result

After investigation was complete After investigation was complete Hughes was not disciplinedHughes was not disciplined

The three employees who made The three employees who made statements on Hughes were statements on Hughes were investigated on other grounds and all investigated on other grounds and all discharged.discharged.

Crawford was fired after being accused Crawford was fired after being accused of embezzlement and drug use of embezzlement and drug use charges. charges.

Crawford filed an EEOC Crawford filed an EEOC charge and a lawsuit after charge and a lawsuit after receiving her notice of right receiving her notice of right to sue. to sue.

Crawford lost in federal Crawford lost in federal district court and again at district court and again at the Court of Appeals. the Court of Appeals.

Because Crawford didn’t file Because Crawford didn’t file the original harassment the original harassment complaint, the courts found complaint, the courts found that she hadn’t opposed that she hadn’t opposed sexual harassment.sexual harassment.

Also, Crawford’s statements Also, Crawford’s statements during the internal during the internal investigation didn’t count as investigation didn’t count as “participation” because no “participation” because no EEOC charge or lawsuit had EEOC charge or lawsuit had been filed at the time. been filed at the time.

Title VII states that unlawful Title VII states that unlawful employment practice for an employment practice for an employer to discriminate against employer to discriminate against any of its employees because the any of its employees because the employee has made a chare, employee has made a chare, testified, assisted, or participated testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in investigation, in any manner in investigation, proceeding, or hearing.proceeding, or hearing.

Crawford didn’t Crawford didn’t claim to investigate claim to investigate or initiate any or initiate any complaint prior to complaint prior to her participation in her participation in the investigation, the investigation, and didn’t take any and didn’t take any further actions further actions following the following the investigation and investigation and prior to her firing.prior to her firing.

No EEOC charge No EEOC charge had been filed at had been filed at the time of the the time of the investigation or investigation or prior to her firing; prior to her firing; the investigation the investigation was internal and was internal and was prompted by was prompted by and informal and informal internal statement.internal statement.

Stakeholders & InterestsStakeholders & Interests

Vicky Crawford: wanted Dr. Gene Vicky Crawford: wanted Dr. Gene Hughes to be fired, sue her job Hughes to be fired, sue her job after firing her.after firing her.

Dr. Gene Hughes: doesn’t want to Dr. Gene Hughes: doesn’t want to be accused of sexual harassment be accused of sexual harassment or fired.or fired.

Metro: does not want to be sued Metro: does not want to be sued and accused of discrimination. and accused of discrimination.

Created byCreated by

Xavier DeanXavier Dean