Settlement Reached in Gender Discrimination Case Against Former RI State Police Col. O’Donnell & Y

Settlement Reached in Gender Discrimination Case Against Former RI State Police Col. O’Donnell & Y

GoLocal has learned a settlement has been reached in the gender discrimination case of two former Greater Providence YMCA executives, Karen Cooper and Linda Dykeman, against the nonprofit and its Chief Executive Officer -- and former head of the Rhode Island State Police -- Steven O’Donnell who is now head of the Greater Providence YMCA.

“They’re pleased with the result,” said Dykeman and Cooper’s lawyer David Cass. “The whole case has been resolved. That’s all I can say.”

Last fall, the YMCA and O'Donnell had filed for summary judgment asking the court to throw the lawsuits out — after Federal District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante had ruled three of four claims could go to trial. 

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The case had been moved to New Hampshire courts due to Rhode Island federal court judge Will Smith being a personal friend of O'Donnell and serving on the YMCA's board.

As GoLocal reported in November, the judge outlined in his ruling the court found that the claims of gender discrimination and humiliation of the two women by the YMCA and specifically O'Donnell had merit to move forward.

“Plaintiffs Karen Cooper and Linda Dykeman allege that the Greater Providence Young Men’s Christian Association and their former supervisor, Steven O’Donnell, subjected them to a hostile work environment based on their gender and retaliated against them when they complained of this discrimination, in violation of federal and state law,” claim the Cooper and Dykeman in the lawsuit.

Read more here.

YMCA Called Allegations False

Prior to the settlement, the YMCA had called Dykeman and Cooper’s allegations “false.”

“The YMCA and CEO Steven O’Donnell look forward to the opportunity to defend themselves against the false allegations brought by Linda Dykeman and Karen Cooper.  The YMCA and Mr. O’Donnell are confident the evidence will demonstrate that Dykeman’s and Cooper’s allegations are the unfortunate product of former YMCA Board Chair Gayle Corrigan’s failed attempt to secure a lucrative, six-figure, positon at the YMCA for herself, while she was still acting as the volunteer Chair of the Board of Directors,” said the YMCA in a statement in November. 

“Again, the evidence will demonstrate that because Mr. O’Donnell and the YMCA Board recognized, and thwarted, Corrigan’s attempts to use her position as Board Chair to secure this lucrative contract, she and her business partners – Dykeman and Cooper – undertook a campaign to smear Mr. O’Donnell and hamper the work of the Greater Providence YMCA,” the YMCA continued.  “The YMCA and Mr. O’Donnell look forward to a trial on these unfounded allegations and are confident a jury of Rhode Island citizens will view Dykeman’s and Cooper’s claims just as the YMCA and Mr. O’Donnell know them to be - wholly unfounded.”

YMCA on Settlement

“The Greater Providence YMCA has agreed with its insurance carrier’s decision to settle litigation brought by two former staff members," said Daniel Knight, Chairman of the GPYMCA Board of Directors, on Thursday. 

"The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steven O’Donnell, with the full support of the Board of Directors, looks forward to the continued transformation of the Greater Providence YMCA and the members it serves. In compliance with the settlement agreement, the GPYMCA will have no further comment," he added.

Story first published Thursday 11:44 AM

Updated Thursday 12:08 PM