Kentucky Company Settlements EEOC Harassment Suit

An Ashland, Kentucky, credit card processing company has agreed to pay $365,000 to 11 former employees who said they were sexually harassed by the company’s owner.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against MMS Resources Inc. over the allegations. The EEOC said the women were threatened with losing their jobs, raises, promotions or other employment opportunities if they protested.

MMS and the EEOC agreed to a 30-month consent decree in addition to the payments to the women, who will receive amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

MMS filed for bankruptcy in August while the lawsuit was pending, and the consent decree says if the owner, Brian “Pat” Reed, starts or buys another company, it must create a policy prohibiting sexual harassment against employees.