Bartender harassed at Wheaton Legion to get $10,000

Wheaton post did nothing about his complaints that a female manager groped, propositioned him, probe finds.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: October 20, 2009 - 10:50 PM

An American Legion post in a small western Minnesota town has agreed to pay a former bartender $10,000 after he complained that a female kitchen manager groped him and sexually propositioned him.

Billy Lambert told his manager that Cindy Iverson grabbed his groin and tried to kiss him, but no one investigated his claims. A few months later, Lambert quit his job.

On Tuesday the Minnesota Department of Human Rights said Lambert was sexually harassed and subjected to an offensive and hostile work environment. The agency's investigation also concluded that the Wheaton American Legion post didn't have any policies or training about sexual harassment.

Out of 13,867 sexual harassment cases reported nationwide in 2008, 15.9 percent were filed by men, according to data collected by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The legion post did not admit violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act in its settlement with Lambert, but agreed to conduct a two-hour training session for managers. It also agreed to revise sexual harassment policies. Neither Lambert nor Iverson could be reached for comment. The current president of the post, Vaughn Maudal, declined to comment on the case, but said that Iverson is no longer employed at the American Legion.

Lambert was washing dishes on Dec. 1, 2006 when Iverson grabbed his head and tried to kiss him, according to the department's investigation. He said he developed ulcers and suffered from nightmares, insomnia and depression after the harassment.

In February 2007 the post's committee chairman held a meeting with Lambert and Iverson about an unrelated problem. Lambert reminded the chairman he had already complained about the harassment but no one took action. He said he was quitting.

The chairman told the Department of Human Rights investigator he didn't remember Lambert discussing any harassment. He said that if anyone was found guilty of harassment, they would be fired. The chairman also said the post had been having problems with "personality conflicts, back stabbing, unwarranted accusations and cliques amongst its employees" since moving to a larger facility, according to the investigation.

One of Lambert's co-workers, however, told the investigator that he witnessed the harassment in the legion bar.

Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628

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