After a two-day trial, Jerome Dobson obtained $345,000 in damages for a woman who alleged that she was subjected to sexual harassment and denied a promotion because of her sex. The plaintiff, Beverly Alexander, was employed as a police officer for the City of Steele, Missouri, from 2006 to 2009.
In 2008, she was promoted to the rank of Captain and she also became the Chief Investigator for the Steele Police Department. Alexander was the only female police officer employed by the City of Steele and she alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment because of her sex. She also alleged that she was passed over for a promotion to Chief of Police when the position became vacant in 2009. Alexander alleged that the Steele mayor promised to appoint her to that job, but later decided to appoint a less-qualified male to the position.
On her sexual harassment claim, the jury awarded Alexander $50,000 for emotional distress and assessed $150,000 in punitive damages against the City of Steele. On her promotion claim, the jury awarded Alexander $45,000 for economic damages and emotional distress and assessed $100,000 in punitive damages against the City of Steele.