Class Action

Class Action chronicles the landmark sexual harassment case Jensen v. Eveleth Mines, which became the first sexual harassment class action lawsuit in U.S. history. The book follows Lois Jenson, a mineworker in Minnesota's Iron Range, who faced severe harassment while working at Eveleth Mines beginning in 1975. The authors detail the long legal battle that began in 1984 and extended through multiple appeals and setbacks over 14 years. Through interviews and extensive research, they reconstruct the experiences of the women miners who endured hostile working conditions and the complex legal proceedings that followed. The narrative alternates between depicting life in the mines and documenting the grinding process of building a groundbreaking legal case that would set new precedents for workplace discrimination law. The story tracks how a small-town dispute grew into a case that would influence corporate policies and sexual harassment law across the United States. This account illuminates broader themes about gender equality, power dynamics in male-dominated industries, and the personal cost of seeking justice through the legal system. The book serves as both a legal history and a testament to the impact individual citizens can have on civil rights.

Readers describe this book as a detailed account of the first major sexual harassment class action lawsuit in the US. Many note its clear explanation of complex legal proceedings while maintaining the human elements of the story. Readers appreciated: - The balance between legal details and personal narratives - The focus on working-class women's experiences - Documentation of workplace conditions at Minnesota mines - The contrast between corporate and individual perspectives Common criticisms: - Some sections drag with excessive detail - Legal terminology can be dense for casual readers - A few readers found the narrative structure confusing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (100+ ratings) Reader quote: "The authors do an excellent job of presenting the facts while keeping the human story front and center" - Amazon reviewer The book resonated particularly with readers interested in labor rights and workplace discrimination cases.

North Country by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt A miner's daughter brings the first sexual harassment class action case against a Minnesota mining company in 1975.

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🔍 The book inspired the 2005 film "North Country" starring Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand, bringing wider attention to the landmark sexual harassment case. ⚖️ Lois Jenson, the main subject of the book, filed what became the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in U.S. history in 1988 against Eveleth Mines in Minnesota. 📅 The legal battle detailed in the book lasted 15 years before finally being settled in 1998, setting important precedents for workplace harassment cases. 💪 The female miners featured in the story had to endure not only workplace harassment but also ostracism from their community, as many locals viewed them as troublemakers threatening the region's economic stability. ✍️ Co-author Clara Bingham comes from a journalism background and previously worked as a White House correspondent for Newsweek, bringing investigative depth to the telling of this groundbreaking case.