By Terry James
BLOOMINGTON – The YWCA of McLean County has lost an appeal of a decision made by the Bloomington Human Relations Commission in a discrimination case.
Attorneys for Eric Tapley accuse the YWCA of firing Tapley for inappropriate conduct between Tapley and a female co-worker, but they didn’t talk to Tapley prior to his dismissal in 2012.
The Bloomington Human Relations Commission ruled the YWCA denied Tapley due process and ordered the group to pay Tapley lost wages and other damages. The commission has also ordered the YWCA to pay the City of Bloomington $2500 and to hire an ombudsman to oversee employee management procedures.
The YWCA appealed the decision to the fourth district appellate court and lost. Calls to Tapley’s lawyer were not returned and the YWCA declined comment. Eric Tapley is African-American and claims he was discriminated against.
Terry James can be reached at terry.james@cumulus.com.
