Texas Energy Services Firm to Pay $39K in North Dakota Racial Harassment Suit
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says a Texas-based oilfield service company operating in North Dakota will pay $39,900 to settle a racial harassment lawsuit.
The EEOC’s lawsuit accused Cudd Energy Services of violating an employee’s civil rights by subjecting him to a hostile work environment because of his Asian race, then firing him when he complained.
The commission said Friday Alex Villanueva worked at Cudd’s Williston location from February to July 2013 as an equipment operator. The lawsuit says a white supervisor began harassing Villanueva because of his race and on one occasion physically assaulted him.
A consent decree signed by a federal judge also requires the company to train its management personnel on civil rights law. Cudd did not immediately return a call for comment. Cudd is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.