Federal agency says Chattanooga retaliated against sexual harassment victim

photo Paul Page, Chattanooga's director of general services

An investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that Chattanooga retaliated against a sexual harassment victim by assigning her to a different position at a different location.

Paul Page, the city's director of general services, confirmed Thursday he was the target of the investigation.

"Based upon the investigation, I have determined that evidence exists to establish that the Charging Party, and a class of individuals, were sexually harassed and retaliated against," Sarah L. Smith, EEOC area director, wrote in a letter written to Chattanooga.

The sexual harassment claim was filed by the complainant in December 2008, according to the letter.

Page was found to have violated the city's sexual harassment policies once before after a complaint was filed in October 2008. In the incident, Page was placed on corrective action and disciplined by the city.

It was unclear Thursday morning whether the December 2008 complaint was a second one or the same complaint.

According to the EEOC letter, the city responded to the December complaint by saying the sexual harassment victim did not want to pursue the claim and that discontinued her protections under law.

The letter states the city must now meet with the EEOC to come to an adequate resolution of the complaint. If the city declines to enter into settlement discussions, the matter can go to court, the letter states.

For complete details, read tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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