Farmworker Sex Abuse Often Goes UnnoticedFarmworker Sex Abuse Often Goes U

[Judi Lynn]

Farmworker Sex Abuse Often Goes Unnoticed

By JULIANA BARBASSA
The Associated Press
Friday, October 28, 2005; 3:23 AM

LEMOORE, Calif. -- It took Olivia Tamayo six years to accuse her supervisor of rape, but when she finished telling her story in court it took a jury less than six hours to award the farmworker $1 million in damages.

A federal court jury in January found that Harris Farms, one of California's largest farming operations, had not acted promptly to stop the harassment once it was reported, and that it retaliated against Tamayo, forcing her to quit.

"When I tried to say something about it, the company didn't believe me, didn't do anything to protect me," Tamayo said recently.

Company President John Harris said an internal investigation led him to believe that Tamayo's case was an affair gone bad, not rape, and that he plans to appeal the verdict.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102800139.html

[salin]

1. this story makes me so angry

predators allowed to prey on the most vulnerable and the company doing rigged investigations. I would really like to know how the 'interprettor" for her when she finally did go report the assault to the authorities, ended up being an official with the Harris Farms company. Grrrr.

[jaysunb]

2. Unfortunately, this is pretty common in that area

These foremen are a throw back to the overseers during slavery. They are of the same mindset: any non white person is subject to their whims, mostly with the tacit approval of their bosses.

I some of these farmers, and they are a nasty bunch.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. At one time, this would have sent people rushing to form a union

What the hell has happened to us?