Lawsuit alleging racial slurs at HIMG confidentially settled

WINFIELD - A lawsuit against HIMG Professional Services for discrimination has been confidentially settled and dismissed.

On Oct. 17, a letter was filed in Putnam Circuit Court directed toward Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers stating that on Sept. 24, A. Andrew MacQueen met with counsel, the plaintiff and a responsible representative of the defendant to attempt to mediate the case.

A settlement was reached which resolved all matters in dispute between the parties, according to the letter.

An agreed order of dismissal was filed on Nov. 25, dismissing the cause with prejudice.

Amanda Warren was employed by HIMG as a medical assistant and worked in its Teays Valley office, according to a complaint filed Aug. 15, 2012, in Putnam Circuit Court.

Warren claimed the defendant created a "racially hostile work environment" by calling her racial slurs, allowing racial jokes and discriminating against her.

The defendant would not allow Warren to sit at the front desk to great patients due to the color of her skin, according to the suit.

Warren claimed the defendant also would not allow her to participate in Triage patient care, which she was certified to do.

When Warren reported the defendants' actions, the defendant retaliated by cutting her hours, refusing lunch breaks and failing to promote her to a full-time position, according to the suit.

Warren was seeking compensatory damages. She was represented by Lia DiTrapano Fairless of the DiTrapano Law Firm PC and Elizabeth G. Kavitz of DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero PLLC.

The defendant was represented by Brian J. Moore and Katherine B. Capito of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

The case was assigned to Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 12-C-257