Monarch Dental has reached a $175,000 settlement with two former employees who alleged that they were subjected to sexual harassment by a dentist while they were working at the company's Burleson, TX, facility, according to a news story in the Star-Telegram.
The case was brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last year against Monarch, which was then known as Bright Now Dental Association.
"This was an outrageous case of sexual harassment in which an educated dental professional was enabled to abuse his power and subject his female employees to ongoing, unwanted, sexually vulgar comments and touches," said Devika Seth, an attorney with the agency's Dallas office, in a written statement.
In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that lead dentist David Mikitka, DDS, began subjecting dental hygienist Deanna Chaney and dental assistant Jan Pawelek to unwanted sexual conduct shortly after they started working in Monarch Dental's Burleson office.
The case further contended that Pawelek and Chaney complained to management about the harassment, but that Monarch Dental failed to conduct a proper investigation and to administer appropriate discipline.
Records of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners show that Dr. Mikitka is still licensed to practice in Texas, and the board's website shows no record of disciplinary actions against him, according to the Star-Telegram.
