Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced the resolution of a sex discrimination lawsuit against Turner Mining Group, LLC. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, through its Civil Rights Division, secured a Consent Decree to address allegations that Turner violated the Arizona Civil Rights Act by subjecting a female truck driver to a hostile work environment and retaliating against her following her complaint of harassment.
The Arizona Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sex and protects employees from retaliation for reporting such offenses. Mayes stated, "Women have been involved in the mining industry since the 1860s. The workplace is not equal until women have a right to pursue the profession of their choosing without the additional barrier of workplace harassment, not to mention retaliation for reporting that harassment." She added, "My office continues to ensure that employment decisions in our state are based on the quality of a person’s work and their merit rather than their sex, as required by Arizona law."
As part of the agreement, Turner Mining Group will implement several measures, including revising policies to deter discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; training staff on relevant state and federal laws; and undergoing monitoring by the Civil Rights Division for up to three years.
The Civil Rights Division aims to enforce civil rights laws, raise awareness, provide dispute resolution, and extend community services in Arizona. Individuals facing discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, or voting are encouraged to contact the office at (602) 542-5263 or complete a questionnaire available at their website.
The litigation was managed by Assistant Attorneys General Maura Hilser and Tarah White, with support from Paralegal Frankie Hensley. Compliance Officer Alisha Kram led the investigation.
A copy of the Consent Decree is available for review.