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Crime, Law and Justice
Estelle Timar-Wilcox
St. Paul

Minnesota joins lawsuit against construction company for rape, assault allegations

A woman speaks at a press conference with state
Norma Izaguirre speaks Tuesday at the Minnesota Capitol alongside state officials who joined her lawsuit against Absolute Drywall following an investigation into the construction company.
Estelle Timar-Wilcox | MPR News

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The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is joining a lawsuit against a construction company, alleging it failed to investigate reports of sexual harassment and rape. 

In an announcement Tuesday, Attorney General Keith Ellison said a state investigation found the company Absolute Drywall violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

“We want to send the strongest possible message to everyone in construction that you must care for the rights and protection and dignity of all of your workers,” Ellison said. “When you don't live up to those legal requirements, accountability is going to be coming your way.” 

Former Absolute Drywall employee Norma Izaguirre filed the lawsuit last week. She started working for the company as a construction worker in January 2021, according to the complaint. Within a few months, a coworker started harassing her at work. 

Izaguirre allegedly reported sexual harassment and aggression to her supervisor, but the company did not investigate. 

In May 2021, Izaguirre said her coworker assaulted and raped her while at work at a job site in Eagan. She once again reported harassment to her supervisor; the complaint alleges the company did not investigate, and her coworker did not face consequences. 

Izaguirre said she reported harassment to different higher-ups at Absolute Drywall at least five times over the course of several months. No one ever investigated. Then the company stopped assigning her any work; Izaguirre says she was fired in retaliation for reporting harassment. 

Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said its investigation of Absolute Drywall found that the company had no sexual assault policies or reporting practices in place. Lucero said it should have investigated Izaguirre’s complaints and stepped in to prevent harassment.

“We want to make sure that what happened here doesn't happen to any other employee in any other workplace in Minnesota,” Lucero said. 

The state is asking the company to make changes to its policies and practices, and to pay Izaguirre for damages.

Absolute Drywall did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. 

Izaguirre said she’s grateful for the state’s support in the case. Speaking through an interpreter, she said she hopes it prevents companies from hurting other women.

“This is an acknowledgement of not only my truth, but also the unacceptable reality that women like me — Latina women — too often face sexual harassment and assault in the construction industry,” Izaguirre said. 

Last month, Juan Diego Medina Cisneros pleaded guilty to felony criminal sexual conduct against Izaguirre in Dakota County.

Absolute Drywall is also facing a state labor investigation following allegations of wage theft at its project on the 200-acre Viking Lakes residential development.