Kingston Properties Pay $240,000 in Sex Harassment Settlement

Kingston Properties Pay $240,000 in Sex Harassment Settlement 

Kingston Properties, a group of companies that owned and managed affordable housing complexes in Kingston, New York, has agreed to pay $240,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit alleged that the former owner and top management official of Kingston Properties, Steve Aaron, subjected female employees to sexual comments, yelled at them using obscene, sexist epithets, and engaged in unwelcome physical contact, including subjecting a female employee to pornography on a cell phone. Despite objections by female employees, the conduct continued, leading several women to resign. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on sex and subjecting employees to a hostile work environment based on sex. The new owner of the properties will not allow Steve Aaron or the top manager of the prior companies to be involved with their employees or in the management of the buildings.