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SOC LLC to Pay Female K9 Specialist $1.8M for Hostile Work Environment in Title VII Lawsuit
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Nishica Srivastava
January 28, 2025
Sargent v. Department of State et al.
Case Background
On March 6, 2019, Plaintiff Tracy S. Sargent ("Sargent" or "Plaintiff") filed this civil rights lawsuit against SOC LLC ("SOC" or "Defendant"). She alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e), et seq. ("Title VII"). Specifically, she claimed discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. Sargent also brought a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under District of Columbia common law.The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, District of Columbia (Washington, DC). Judge Carl J. Nichols presided over this employment discrimination case. [Case Number: 1:19cv620]
Cause
Tracy S. Sargent, a 51-year-old K9 specialist with over 27 years in public safety, was recognized nationally for her expertise in canine safety and security. She trained dogs for detecting explosives and human remains and tracking missing persons.
In 2016, SOC hired Sargent for a Kennel Master position. Sargent began her assignment at the Baghdad Embassy Compound (BEC) in 2017, supervising K9 Bomb Detection Teams. She quickly gained recognition but faced significant challenges, including harassment and discrimination from male coworkers. These men frequently made inappropriate comments, used derogatory language, and created a hostile work environment.
Sargent’s supervisor, Kyle Lindsey, often assigned her undesir
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Categories
Tags
Hostile work environment
civil rights
employment
Retaliation
sex discrimination
Title VII
hostile work environment
retaliation
title vii