Feds file sex harassment suit against Hawaii, DOT

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HONOLULU — The federal government is suing Hawaii and its Department of Transportation’s airports division for the alleged sexual harassment of a former airport canine handler.

HONOLULU — The federal government is suing Hawaii and its Department of Transportation’s airports division for the alleged sexual harassment of a former airport canine handler.

The lawsuit filed Monday says a female canine handler was sexually harassed by a co-worker at the Honolulu airport. The suit alleges he grabbed and hugged her and called her “sexy” and “brown baby.” The suit claims she was retaliated against for filing complaints.

The lawsuit claims her employers did nothing to stop the harassment.

The suit says the harassment started when the woman and the co-worker worked for a private contractor and continued when they later became state employees.

A Department of Transportation spokeswoman says the airports division won’t comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and other remedies.