West Texas Jury Returns $1M Sexual Harassment, Pregnancy Discrimination Verdict Against Oilfield Services Company

Company founded by high school, NFL star assessed $800,000 in punitive damages MIDLAND, Texas – A federal jury in Midland has returned a $1 million sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination verdict against Odessa-based oilfield services company Brinkerhoff Inspection Inc. doing business as SMOB. The $1.008 million verdict returned on Wednesday by the jury of six men and two women includes punitive damages totaling $841,625 to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future. Jurors heard testimony that plaintiff Sara Roberts was fired just four days into her employment after rejecting sexual advances from SMOB’s Personnel Manager Keith Demby. Ms. Roberts had also disclosed that she was pregnant during the job interview process in response to questions by Mr. Demby. She was fired after informing the company that she had recently gotten married. In reaching the verdict, jurors agreed unanimously that Ms. Roberts was a victim of sexual harassment,