Illinois Business Owner Pays $49,000 In Sexual Harassment Case
Ferdinarn Wilhelm who owns Decatur Rentals must pay $49,000 after a hearing in a sexual harassment case before the city's Human Relations Commission. The commission found Wilhelm guilty of sexual harassment against former employee Sally Nailer. During the trial it was alleged Wilhelm repeatedly sexually harassed her and other female employees. The settlement amount was broken down as $10,000 in back pay, $25,000 in emotional damages, and nearly $14,000 in attorney's fees.
Nailer worked for Wilhelm as a secretary and according to testimoney, Nailer accused Wilhelm of feigning a severe injury in order to force her to essentially act as a nurse. This nurse care included dressing him, cooking all of his meals and making trips to his house in the middle of the night for odd or seemingly unnecessary requests. At the same time this was going on, Nailer claims Wilhelm made sexual comments and unwanted sexual advances toward her. There were over ten witnesses that testified in this case.
