State Agency Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Associated Press has learned from court records and interviews that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will pay $95,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit lodged by a 10-year employee who says she was subjected to lewd remarks and groping by a co-worker.

The agreement signed Wednesday by Tina Cramer ends her case, with the agency denying culpability. But it doesn't fully answer questions about how harassment allegations at DPS were addressed. The accused employee has not been formally disciplined, though a supervisor was reprimanded for failing to adequately address Cramer's case.

Public Safety officials declined repeated AP requests to release materials from an investigation. Spokesman Bruce Gordon wouldn't comment on the case specifically but says the agency is committed to providing a safe work environment.