Suit alleges 'toxic' culture of sexual harassment, intimidation at Louisville Zoo

Phillip M. Bailey | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Suit alleges 'toxic' culture of sexual harassment at Louisville Zoo Racheal Butrum alleges in a lawsuit filed this week that she was subjected to unwelcome sexual advances by a former supervisor who bragged about his penis size and that another worker mocked her by fashioning a semi-nude mannequin in her likeness.

The first woman to work as a maintenance supervisor at the Louisville Zoo alleges in a federal lawsuit that she was sexually harassed and intimidated for years by male co-workers and that the zoo’s director covered up the allegations.

Racheal Butrum, who still works at the zoo, alleges in a lawsuit filed this week that she was subjected to unwelcome sexual advances by a former supervisor who bragged about his penis size and that another worker mocked her by fashioning a semi-nude mannequin in her likeness. She also alleges that a subordinate was verbally abusive and threatened physical violence on numerous occasions.

Butrum claims longtime zoo director John Walczak did little to stop the mistreatment.

Walczak declined to comment about the case, citing pending litigation, according to a zoo spokeswoman.

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A three-month investigation by Metro Human Resources admonished zoo officials for how they handled Butrum's complaints and made several recommendations about how to improve workplace culture.

Within days of being hired in October 2014, according to the suit, Butrum was subjected to unwelcome sexual advances verbally and through text messages from Rich Williams, the former director of maintenance.

The suit alleges Williams also made comments describing sex acts. Butrum's suit says she alerted Walczak about the incident, but that he allowed Williams to offer his resignation and "was given a good reference."

The suit also claims that Butrum then began to have ongoing clashes with Brian Stear and Joey Culver, two zoo maintenance workers under her supervision. The complaint says Stear said he would not accept direction from a woman and that Culver said, "Women belong in two places, the bedroom or the kitchen. Nowhere else."

Neither Stear nor Culver, who are still zoo employees, responded to emails or phone messages left Thursday morning seeking comment.

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Butrum's suit accuses Stear of being verbally abusive on at least three separate occasions when asked to perform a task. Each time the suit alleges Stear would become increasingly threatening toward her while also destroying zoo equipment.

The suit alleges that in early 2015, after being instructed to stop working on the zoo's train, Stear came chest-to-chest and nose-to-nose with Butrum, and screamed, "You're going to stop telling me how to do my f----ing job!" The suit claims he grabbed a 30-pound tool and threw it at Butrum, narrowly missing her head.

The suit says Butrum alerted Sean Woods, who is currently the zoo's facilities manager, about the hostile work environment but that each time, he declined to take any action or record the complaints.

Butrum alleges in the suit that Woods told her, "Just let this go."

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Woods did not return a phone message left with the zoo administration or an email Thursday morning requesting comment.

According to the suit, other incidents began to pile up, such as a September 2015 instance where Butrum said she found the word "b----" written on a piece of paper that was placed in the middle of her work vehicle's console.

In October 2016, Butrum claims she discovered a "provocatively posed mannequin" that was "clearly created to mock" her. The suit says the mannequin's hair was made to look like hers, it had a "large red nipple ... drawn on the breast" and was adorned with sunglasses stolen from her office.

In a Feb. 3 investigative file, human resources said Butrum's allegation that zoo management was aware of the first incident of sexual harassment involving her supervisor was unsubstantiated.

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The summary noted Butrum was entering in a "traditionally male profession" and that she was a "brand new supervisor" but it admonished zoo officials for how they handled some of the complaints.

The report said there was no evidence that Stear's alleged verbal abuse or threats of violence were looked into. However, human resources said "when a male employee expressed concern that Ms. Butrum had engaged in workplace gossip," zoo supervisors launched a full investigation into her that led to discipline prior to obtaining Butrum's version of events.

Human Resources made seven separate recommendations in a letter to Walczak, including instructions that zoo senior management treat any and all reports of angry or violent behavior seriously, and take immediate action.

Zoo managers were also advised to complete sexual harassment training twice a year, conduct annual performance reviews and create consistent understanding with the senior ranks about workplace expectations and how best to respond to employee concerns.

Butrum, who according to the suit has also filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is seeking at least $5 million in court.

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courier-journal.com.