Thomas professed his love for her and suggested they go away and have sex, the lawsuit stated.
At the end of the highly publicized trial, Thomas, 46, denied any wrongdoing and vowed to appeal the verdict. He said the jury got it wrong and he was “extremely disappointed.”
Browne Sanders, now the senior associate athletic director at the University of Buffalo, is pleased with the outcome but saddened by what she knows many other women will endure to avoid the scrutiny of associates, colleagues, and the media. “There is a good amount of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace; and many women suffer through it in fear of losing their job. The issues I had at Madison Square Garden weren’t only happening to me. There were a number of things happening to women who worked for me.
“My breaking point came when they fired me. I wanted to keep my job; I loved my job,” she says. “I was in disbelief because I had had years of superior work performance. It was obvious that my firing was retaliation because I complained about the hostile work environment.”
It had been estimated that Browne Sanders’ payout could have increased significantly for compensatory and punitive damages. But three days before the federal court was to rule, the Garden settled and withdrew all appeals. In punitive damages, the Garden will pay Browne Sanders for creating the hostile work environment and condoning the retaliation against her. Garden Chairman James Dolan will personally have to pay for his retaliatory act of firing her. Thomas was not personally required to pay Browne Sanders.
In the days that followed her victory, two other black women filed discrimination suits against the Garden. Diane Henson and an anonymous co-worker claimed they were denied promotions while young white interns who schmoozed a
nd flirted with managers gained advancement. Henson worked at the Garden for 11 years before she was forced to resign.
Browne Sanders says the problems women face at the Garden are systemic. “When an organization takes a strong stand against discrimination and sexual harassment, that stance will be filtered down.”
Dawne Westbrook, Connecticut NAACP legal redress counsel chair and civil rights attorney, says many components come into play after a discrimination lawsuit is filed. “It is often very difficult to file a claim and remain employed,” explains Westbrook. “Once the lawsuit is filed, the environment becomes so harassing and hostile that most plaintiffs end up quitting. Then they face the task of trying to find a new job without being blacklisted.”
Civil rights attorney Ron Kuby agrees. He says once you file a lawsuit against your current or former employer, it is a big red flag to others that you are “a troublemaker.” He maintains: “White male troublemakers are considered movers and shakers, but black women are labeled as people who don’t know their place. They are measured by a different scale-no matter how good their work ethic. There is [also] fierce competition for jobs out there, so many black women remain silent.”
Westbrook says the NAACP