MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- An African American employee of the shuttered Whirlpool plant in La Vergne was awarded $1 million after she was attacked by a co-worker who had been harassing her.
The Daily News Journal reports that when Carlotta Freeman complained that white co-worker Willie Baker was harassing her with "sexually explicit and racially charged statements," a supervisor initially suggested that she ignore him. He later suggested Baker might leave her alone if she had sex with him.
On March 26, 2004, Baker punched Freeman in the face, knocking her onto the assembly line where she was hit by air conditioners coming down the line. He continued trying to punch her until a co-worker pulled him onto the floor.
Federal Judge John T. Nixon ordered the award on Monday.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
