Washington Bank Sued by Women Claiming Sex Discrimination

Two former employees of the Miles City branch of Stockman Bank in Montana have filed a lawsuit alleging sexual discrimination by their supervisors.

Cindy Conley of Miles City and Tracee Burchell of Castle Rock, Colorado, filed the federal case alleging they were subjected to a pattern of unwelcome, inappropriate and offensive conduct of a sexual nature, The Billings Gazette reported Tuesday.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Stockman Bank’s attorney, Jeanne Bender, said the women previously filed complaints with the Montana Human Rights Bureau, which found no reason to believe discrimination had taken place.

“I think the bank thought it was over,” Bender said. “If we are served, we will fight it. We haven’t been served yet.”

The 16-page complaint was filed on July 2.

It alleges Branch President Stan Markuson made inappropriate sexual comments and jokes to Conley for years. It also claims vice president Jeff Flaten made derogatory comments about Burchell to her supervisor and sexually harassed other female employees with inappropriate comments.

Conley and Burchell said they sought medical treatment and were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.