KBR “maintains strong and effective sexual harassment prevention and reporting programs.”
~Heather Browne~
Excuse me? I believe that consistent reports and evidence shows that not only does KBR look the other way, they persecute the victims while protecting the perps. It appears that the behavior not only continues but that the violence has escalated. Since when is locking up a rape victim (Jamie Leigh Jones case), letting an accused rapist high tail it back home (Anna Mayo case) or keeping alleged attackers on the payroll (Dawn Leamon case) effective? Is aiding and abetting considered a valid corporate policy by the DoD, for the companies it rewards with government contracts? Instead of turning the other cheek, maybe the DoD needs to look at how many of these perps and their protectors hold security clearances. Pedophiles, pimps and criminals are a risk to national security, HELLO!
KBR takes complacency and greed to a whole new level of repulsion in my book. Evidently Heather Browne needs to do some KBR time in the Middle East! ~Ms Sparky
KBR Subsidiary Sued by Former Employee Who Claims Sexual Assault in Iraq
Miriam Rozen – Texas Lawyer - October 14, 2010 – In an Oct. 1 petition, Rachel Wright alleges Houston-based KBR Inc. and seven of its subsidiaries are responsible for the conditions under which she was sexually assaulted. Wright is a former morale, welfare and recreation department coordinator for a KBR subsidiary operating in Iraq, Service Employees International Inc.
In her petition in Rachel Wright v. Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc., et al., filed in Harris County’s 157th District Court, Wright also names as a defendant another former employee of the same KBR subsidiary, David Charles Breda Jr. Wright makes a claim of sexual assault and battery against Breda.
On Feb. 8, Judge Gray H. Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston sentenced Breda to 24 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact.
Roderick White of the Law Offices of Roderick C. White in Fort Worth, who represents Breda in the criminal case, declines comment and says he does not represent Breda in the civil matter. Court records do not list a lawyer for Breda in the civil suit.
Breda could not be reached immediately for comment on Oct. 11 because a receptionist at the Federal Correctional Institution at Bastrop says Liz Eskew, the press contact, is out today due to the holiday.
In her Oct. 1 petition, Wright’s causes of action against the KBR corporate defendants include intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, fraud and breach of contract.
She seeks damages in excess of $100,000 from KBR, its subsidiaries and Breda for past and future medical treatment and past and future emotional distress, as well as exemplary damages from all the defendants for gross negligence and “legal malice.”
L. Todd Kelly, founder of The Kelly Law Firm in Houston, represents Wright.
Wright alleges that on Oct. 8, 2008, as she started moving from one living quarter to another in Iraq, Breda pinned her down on a bed and sexually assaulted her. She alleges that: “[M]any women have come forward to place KBR Defendants on notice of the sexually violent environment that it created. . . . [Her] attack never would have occurred but for the complacent ‘boys will be boys’ toleration of sexual abuses that continue to permeate the environment that KBR Defendants first created, then failed to warn Rachel about — an environment that was excused, if not encouraged, and of which KBR Defendants had ample prior notice.”
In response to questions about Wright’s state court petition, KBR director of media relations Heather Browne writes on behalf of KBR and its subsidiaries: “The safety and security of all employees remains KBR’s top priority. KBR maintains strong and effective sexual harassment and assault prevention and reporting programs to protect its employees. These programs include multiple trainings, communications, reporting mechanisms, and investigation procedures. KBR adamantly denies the allegations in Ms. Wright’s complaint that sexual misconduct is encouraged, tolerated, or ignored. KBR responded immediately to Ms. Wright’s report of inappropriate sexual contact and reported it to military authorities. KBR also fully cooperated with the criminal investigation of Ms. Wright’s claims.”
Browne says the company has not yet selected outside counsel in Wright’s suit. (Click HERE for original article)
