Women's lawsuit against Edmond company settlement

Saturday, July 24th 2004, 11:41 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Details of a sexual harassment lawsuit settlement between an Edmond company that once operated a Colorado private prison and three women who used to work there aren't being released.

The women, former guards, filed the federal lawsuit seeking more than $10 million from Dominion Correctional Services and three managers.

The former guards alleged that female employees were coerced numerous times in 2001 and 2002 into sexual activity by male managers who condoned sexual misconduct among workers.

Attorneys for the three women wouldn't disclose the terms of the settlements. A Dominion representative couldn't be reached Friday for comment.

Inmates at the Crowley County Correctional Facility in Olney Springs, Colo., destroyed housing units during a riot this week. Dominion was replaced as the facility's operator when Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corporation of America purchased the prison last year.

Former guard Lucilla Gigliotti alleged that she became pregnant after the prison's former chief of security, Ronald McCall, went to her home and raped her.

McCall, in court filings, denied he sexually assaulted her and denied he ``engaged in any conduct which violated the constitutional rights'' of Gigliotti and the other two women, Pamela Johnson and Lt. Jennifer Stalder.

McCall had been forced from a previous job at the Colorado Department of Corrections because ``he had an extensive history of engaging in sexual discrimination and harassment,'' the three women alleged.

Former warden Steve Hargett and Maj. Julian Vigil, who later was chief of security, also were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Johnson alleged a guard raped her at the prison despite her having previously pleaded with Vigil not to assign the guard and her to the same work area.

Stalder alleged McCall frequently propositioned her and often called her at home ``asking if her husband was home and whether McCall could come over.'' Stalder also alleged that she was harassed more after she complained about the conduct of male employees.

Dominion, in court filings, denied many of the allegations. The company said Gigliotti and Stalder didn't allege any harassment before they resigned.

The company ``took prompt action'' on allegations Gigliotti made later and on Johnson's allegations, it said.

Neither McCall, Hargett, Vigil nor their attorneys could be reached for comment.

The three women alleged the prison managers hired female employees ``based on (their) physical attributes'' and commented on whether a hiring prospect ``might be easy to get to bed.''

The women each sought $3.3 million or more for alleged violations of their constitutional rights, wrongful conduct, loss of income and other claims.