IPA to Pay $8 Million in Settlement of Decade-Long EEOC Sexual Harassment Suit

March 30, 2011

Chicago, Illinois – International Profit Associates (IPA), a business consulting firm, will pay $8 million dollars to settle the damages of 82 women caused by sexual harassment and abuse, in a suit considered to be one of the longest in EEOC history.

According to the suit filed almost a decade ago, the top officials and administrators of IPA have had the habit of harassing and discriminating against female employees. The suit showed that 82 female employees were subject to adverse actions including unwanted touching, sexual propositions, assaults, and offensive statements.

The suit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on June 12, 2001 under the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, after IPA refused to agree with a pre-litigation settlement.

An EEOC attorney said the claims of the case were based on egregious sexual harassment actions and the victims deserve to obtain compensation for emotional and personal damages.

Aside from shouldering the $8 million dollar settlement, IPA will also be required to forge anti-sexual harassment policies. Two monitors will review their policies, trainings and measures to foster a fair and harassment-free workplace.