A construction company has reached a tentative settlement in a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee who alleged the firm's owner told her she was "stepping into a man's world" for wanting to work as a drafter.
Van Lokeren Construction Inc. of Sherman Oaks has reached a tentative settlement in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by former employee Maria de Lourdes Cervantes, who alleged the firm owner told her she was stepping into a man's world.
A construction company has reached a tentative settlement in a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee who alleged the firm's owner told her she was "stepping into a man's world" for wanting to work as a drafter.
Maria de Lourdes Cervantes filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Van Lokeren Construction Inc. and its owner, James Thomas Van Lokeren. Her attorneys filed court papers on Wednesday with Judge Daniel S. Murphy notifying the court of a "conditional" resolution in the case. A formal request for dismissal is expected to be filed by August 3. The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Cervantes was hired as the company's office and project manager in June 2021. In her lawsuit, she alleged that her gender and pregnancy made her a target of shunning, belittling, and ostracization at the firm.
When Cervantes asked Van Lokeren in the fall of 2021 to assist with architecture drafting, he reportedly scoffed. According to the lawsuit, he told her women "do not have the experience needed to draft."
"She was stepping into a man's world."
That quote came in March 2023, when Van Lokeren allegedly denied Cervantes a drafter job after she requested the position. The suit stated he rejected her request because of her gender.
The lawsuit further alleged that male employees received opportunities and resources not provided to Cervantes. It also claimed that men were paid more, including higher compensation for their work commutes.
Cervantes' mother was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease in 2022. The plaintiff asked for workplace accommodations that included occasionally leaving early to care for her mother. According to the lawsuit, Van Lokeren responded with disdain.
The suit alleged that Van Lokeren told Cervantes her ill mother should be able to "wipe her own (posterior)" and that she should not have to take care of her mom.
Additional allegations in the lawsuit included:
According to the suit, Van Lokeren's conduct continued after Cervantes was released from the hospital. The filing stated he "seemingly asked Cervantes whether she would consider quitting."
Cervantes resigned in December 2024, according to the lawsuit filed that same month.
The defense denied all of Cervantes' allegations. Robin Samuel, an attorney for Van Lokeren Construction Inc. and James Thomas Van Lokeren, argued in court papers that Cervantes quit her job because she no longer wanted to commute two hours each way while pregnant.
Samuel's filings stated that Cervantes did not experience intolerable working conditions, adverse employment actions, or severe or pervasive harassment. The defense further noted that Cervantes gave notice of her resignation by text message in late June 2023.
The case was assigned to Judge Daniel S. Murphy in Los Angeles Superior Court. The conditional resolution filed on Wednesday signals that both sides expect the matter to be dismissed once the settlement terms are finalized by August 3.
This article was generated with AI assistance.