Jury rules against woman in gender lawsuit against NDOT

Monday, Oct. 16, 2000 | 9:50 a.m.

The jury sided against Kenna Perkins, who alleged she was subjected to a hostile work environment and denied a transfer because she's a woman. NDOT denied the allegations.

"The state of Nevada has a zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment or gender discrimination, but this case was clearly based upon unsubstantiated claims," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Hutchins.

"This case had more to do with a disappointed individual trying to blame others on the basis of improper motives."

Perkins sued NDOT after she was fired from her probationary position with an NDOT surveying team in 1997 and denied a transfer to an NDOT construction crew.

The trial focused on Perkins' claim that she was denied the transfer because of her gender.

She claimed the NDOT assistant district engineer told potential supervisors that women did not belong on constructions crews and that Perkins was "trouble."

At the trial, another woman testified she heard similar comments from the NDOT official. The other woman was fired for threatening the life of an NDOT official.

The jury rejected Perkins' claims.