02-05-2026
Makita Bryant worked for C&M Defense Group LLC as a security guard for two years. She alleged that her supervisor (who was the vice-president of operations) subjected her to unwanted sexual comments, repeated advances, and threats of physical violence after she rejected those advances. This supervisor allegedly made sexually explicit remarks and asked her to come to a strip club and a hotel with him, which she refused. A month later, he reportedly pushed her up against a wall, groped her, and unzipped his pants at a worksite. Bryant said he offered her financial favors and a promotion in exchange for sex. She recorded one of the incidents.
Bryant reported some of these incidents and shared the recording with the company owner. In response, the company reassigned her to a different job site and stopped giving her hours to work. Bryant filed a complaint with the EEOC, and the EEOC issued a Letter of Determination. The EEOC found reasonable cause to conclude that Bryant had been subjected to a hostile work environment based on her sex and that she was discharged from her duties in retaliation for complaining about the harassment.
A jury awarded Bryant $5.5 million after trial, with $1,580,452 in compensatory damages and $3,960,000 in punitive damages. The defendants had stipulated to liability on all claims before the trial. Thus, the jury only had to consider the appropriate damages.
Takeaways: This case serves as a reminder for employers to confirm they have written policies that clearly state that sexual harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated. Additionally, managers should be appropriately trained to respond to complaints when they are received and to avoid actions that could be perceived as retaliatory.