NorVal Ordered To Pay Sexual Harassment Victim

A Valley County district judge has ordered Nor-Val Electric Cooperative in Glasgow to pay more than $2 million to the victim of a sexual harassment complaint against the company’s general manager.

NorVal has been ordered to pay its former office manager and financial officer, Shalaine Lawson.

Damages totaling $1,631,834 were awarded after Judge Yvonne Laird upheld a ruling finding NorVal’s general manager Craig Herbert, who remains employed with the company, harassed Lawson while she was his direct subordinate. The ruling also finds that Herbert retaliated after Lawson made a complaint.

According to area media, the total cost to NorVal could top $2.4 million.

Lawson brought her complaint after she confronted Herbert and the cooperative’s board about sexually inappropriate comments and touching dating back to 2017.

Laird also ordered NorVal to amend its harassment policies and procedures so the company can identify, investigate and resolve discrimination complaints and improve its training regimen.

NorVal has 30 days to file an appeal to the Montana Supreme Court or 90 days to pay on the judgment.