A jury has found a veterans nonprofit and its founder and CEO, Thelbert “Thad” Lawson Jr., liable for ongoing sexual harassment of 12 women. The jury ordered the defendants to pay nearly $1.5 million to the victims following Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s civil rights lawsuit.
Lawson was found to have discriminated against and harassed 12 women who were associated with Operation Veterans Assistance & Humanitarian Aid’s (OVAHA) thrift stores in Wenatchee and Kennewick. The harassment included offensive touching, sexually charged remarks, and inappropriate requests for sex. OVAHA and Lawson also retaliated against employees who attempted to complain.
In one instance, after learning that an employee had consulted a lawyer about the harassment, Lawson threatened staff at a meeting: “Don’t piss me off, I know how to make your lives a living hell.” He also harassed five members of the public, including store volunteers and shoppers. In July 2021, Lawson was convicted of assault for sexually grinding his body on a member of the public without her consent. He spent 75 days in jail after his conviction was upheld on appeal.
Ferguson filed the lawsuit in Chelan County Superior Court in February 2022. The jury found that repeated sexual harassment, retaliation, and constructive discharge of female employees and members of the public violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
The jury awarded $1.45 million in damages to the 12 women as well as $17,267.50 in back wages to workers. All awarded money will go to the victims. Following the verdict, Ferguson plans to file a post-trial motion asking the court to prevent Lawson from supervising or harassing women again and to award the state its costs and fees resulting from the lawsuit.
“What happened at OVAHA is repulsive, inexcusable and illegal,” Ferguson said. “I want to thank the workers, volunteers, and members of the public for their courage in speaking up. My team fought for them, and together we won.”
The Washington State Human Rights Commission referred this matter to the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division when a former OVAHA employee filed a complaint against Lawson.
“Absolutely justice served,” said Human Rights Commission Executive Director Andreta Armstrong regarding the verdict. "The jury's decision...is a powerful affirmation of accountability...This outcome not only provides restitution for the victims but also sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated."
OVAHA’s mission is to help veterans in need through its thrift stores in Wenatchee and Kennewick. However, several employees reported Lawson’s conduct to Karen Monroe—Lawson’s wife and board president—who either did not believe them or defended him.
The jury determined that Lawson subjected seven thrift store employees to offensive touching and inappropriate comments about their sex lives. After one employee rejected his advances and he suspected she had consulted an attorney, she was removed from work schedules.
Lawson also harassed or assaulted volunteers and members of the public shopping at OVAHA stores. One individual obtained a restraining order against him after he locked her in a basement room; another incident involved trapping someone in his office where he dry-humped her against her will.
Despite repeated complaints from employees following Lawson’s criminal conviction for assault in 2021, OVAHA allowed him to continue working at its thrift stores.
Ferguson’s complaint asserts that OVAHA and Lawson violated state anti-discrimination laws by subjecting female employees, volunteers, and members of the public to severe sexual conduct while retaliating against those who spoke out.
Assistant Attorneys General Daniel Jeon, Mitchell Riese, Diane Lopez; former Assistant Attorney General Yesica Hernandez; Senior Investigator Alma Poletti; Paralegals Logan Young; Anna Alfonso; Legal Assistant Erika Ray led this case for Ferguson's office.
The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division enforces state anti-discrimination laws protecting all Washington residents’ rights since its establishment in 2015.
More information about Washington’s civil rights laws can be found at http://www.hum.wa.gov/employment.
Individuals believing they are victims of employment discrimination can file complaints with Human Rights Commission at http://www.hum.wa.gov/discrimination-complaint or contact civilrights@atg.wa.gov.