South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Board OKs settlement of discrimination charge

Staff Report

A former Crestwood employee received $37,500 under the terms of a settlement agreement approved by the Board of Alder-men in connection with a discrimination charge filed against the city.

The former employee, Sandra Grave´, had filed a discrimination charge against the city with the Equal Employment Oppor-tunity Commission. Grave´ had been em-ployed by the city more than 30 years as an administrative secretary and an executive secretary.

A lawsuit was not filed in the matter that was settled through mediation in which an EEOC representative served as the mediator, according to minutes of a Sept. 14 closed session of the Board of Aldermen.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement approved during a Sept. 28 closed session of the Board of Aldermen, Grave´ received $37,500 and the legal firm representing her, David C. Howard & Asso-ciates, received $25,000. The payments were covered by the city’s insurance, according to the closed-session minutes.

During the Sept. 28 closed session, Ward 3 Alderman Don Maddox’s motion to approve the settlement agreement, seconded by Ward 4 Alderman Pat Duwe, was unanimously approved.

Under the agreement, Grave´ released all current and former city officials and em-ployees “from any and all demands, claims, suits and causes of action, of any kind and nature whatsoever, that Grave´ may have or claim to have by reason of her employment with Crestwood and her separation from employment with Crestwood.”

The settlement agreement further states, “This agreement constitutes, in part, a compromise of disputed claims on the part of Grave´ and Crestwood. However, the agreement shall not be construed as an admission by Crestwood of any wrongdoing or liability.”

Because Grave´ agreed to settle the matter and withdraw her charge filed with the EEOC, the complaint is not a public record under federal law.

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