A Multnomah County jury gave a verdict in favor of a former employee of MindRite, a cannabis dispensary in Northwest Portland.
In August 2017 the employee complained to the owners of MindRite that her male coworkers were sexually harassing customers and colleagues. After reporting the sexual harassment, the employee also told an owner of MindRite that the harassment was exacerbating a previously diagnosed mental health condition. MindRite then demoted the employee and gave her a written reprimand.
Attorney Richard Myers filed a lawsuit on behalf of the employee in September 2018. In the course of litigation Myers discovered that the owners of the dispensary had received numerous prior complaints of sexual harassment.
After a five-day trial, the jury found that MindRite knew of sexual harassment and failed to prevent it. The jury also found that MindRite discriminated against the employee because of her mental health condition. They awarded lost wages and $50,000 in non-economic damages.
