Austin Employment Attorney Comments on Jury’s Finding in Employment Lawsuit

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) April 6, 2016 – A Travis County jury found that a manager in the city of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department was unlawfully retaliated against after she complained that she experienced discrimination because of her gender and national origin. However, the jury rejected her claims that she was denied a raise and a promotion because of discrimination.

Mapi Vigil, who is from Nicaragua, has worked for the city of Austin for over 20 years and currently supervises about 30 staff members as a managing engineer. The jury awarded her $751,000, but the amount she will receive is capped at $300,000 by state law.

“Unfortunately, some employment discrimination and retaliation still exists in both the private and public sectors,” said Gregory D. Jordan, an Austin employment attorney with the Law Offices of Gregory D. Jordan. “Federal and state statutes are designed to protect employees from such conduct, regardless of whether the employee works for the government or a private company. In this case, it appears the statutes and courts worked.”

Vigil claimed that she was passed over for a promotion in favor of a male applicant, and was denied a raise, while three white employees received salary increases. She also alleged that after she complained of discrimination, her employer retaliated against her by taking away 90 percent of her responsibilities.

Vigil claimed that after she met with her supervisor to voice her concerns, she was placed on a two-day administrative leave and received a written reprimand. The city claimed that that action was taken because Vigil had acted unprofessionally, and a city employee testified that she was yelling during the meeting. However, Vigil claimed that she had secretly recorded the meeting and the recording demonstrated that she did not raise her voice.