Lowe's settles sexual harassment suit with former Sioux Falls store employee

Jonathan Ellis
Argus Leader

Lowe’s Home Improvement has settled a lawsuit brought by a former Sioux Falls employee that alleged the company turned its back on her after she was sexually harassed by another employee.

Vickie Mader sued the company in 2018 after she said the company failed to take appropriate action after she accused Ronald Heidzig, a fellow employee, of grabbing her butt while Mader was assisting customers with ceiling fans.

The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance system, and an assistant manager who viewed the tape acknowledged the incident. Mader had hoped Heidzig would be re-assigned to another shift or fired.

But two and half weeks went by and no action was taken against Heidzig. Meanwhile, the lawsuit alleged that he continued to intimidate Mader by lurking outside her office and in one incident bursting into her office, which prompted another male employee to push him out.

Previously:Former Lowe's employee files suit claiming company failed to act after groping incident

More:Lowe's Cos. to face trial over claim of hostile work environment

Mader eventually resigned her job. She learned later that Heidzig did lose his job, but because of attendance issues and not because of the allegation brought by Mader.

In August, Judge Larry Piersol declined to dismiss the case, saying Lowe’s had a duty to investigate the continued harassment alleged by Mader.

The case was scheduled to go to trial later this year.

Joel Arends, a lawyer who represented Mader, confirmed the case settled this week after the two parties went through mediation. The terms of the settlement were confidential.

“We settled the case,” he said. “Can’t talk about it.”

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Sioux Falls.