Allegations of Discrimination, Harassment Against Daimler’s Security Contractor

U.S. Security Associates Subject to More Than 50 Federal Lawsuits

As the national discussion on discrimination and harassment in the workplace continues, US Security Associates (USSA) and related entities have been the subject of more than 50 federal lawsuits—including racial discrimination & sexual harassment–since 2000. This litigation fans out across the country from Washington to California, Oregon, Texas and more. While USSA denies many of these allegations, a substantial proportion of these charges were settled before a verdict was reached. The sheer number of allegations and cases filed point to a distressing pattern within the company.

• In 2017, former US Security officer Maria Mainetti filed a claim alleging racial and gender discrimination. She asserts she was treated less favorably and discriminated against for being Hispanic. In addition, she claims male officers were hired at considerably higher pay rates than female guards and pay was not based on “superior skill, education, or experience, or any other legitimate factor.” She asserts she was terminated after making several formal complaints concerning company behavior. US Security and Mainetti notified the court that they reached a settlement and the court subsequently ordered the case dismissed with prejudice.

• In 2015, Megan Hendrickson filed a lawsuit against US Security. She alleged violations of the Equal Pay Act and retaliation after she filed charges of discrimination with the EEOC. She alleges that a US Security supervisor sent her “salacious, sexual text messages which were unwarranted and unwelcomed.” After she shared physical copies of the harassing text messages she had received with the HR Department, she had her pay cut by $3,000 per year, was relocated to a more distant post and was demoted. A settlement was reached between the parties and the case was subsequently dismissed with prejudice.

• In 2015, US Security Regional Manager Danny Davis filed a lawsuit against the company in which he alleged that his position was being eliminated and his employment was terminated in retaliation for his participation in the sexual harassment investigation against USSA Vice President Will Riley. After the investigation, Davis alleges that Riley created “a hostile work environment” for him. After his termination, Davis filed a complaint with the EEOC and received a notice of right to sue. A settlement was reached between the parties and the court ordered the case dismissed.

• This behavior reaches back years, including a 2006 diversity case where three US Security officers alleged USSA condoned gender and racial discrimination, subjected the women to fraudulent disciplinary action, created a hostile and offensive work environment and discriminated in terms of wages, benefits, terms and conditions. In response to this case, the judge wrote, “The instant record contains direct evidence of discriminatory animus by Clupper and Chapman [USSA supervisors], including one incident in which Clupper told Thomas that she had three strikes against her because she was a woman, an African American and a Democrat.” In 2006 a settlement was reached by the parties and the case was dismissed.