Justice Department Announces Settlement with Kansas City Kansas Community College to Enforce the Employment Rights of Servicemember
Monday, September 22, 2025 - The Justice Department announced it has reached a settlement with the Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) to enforce the rights guaranteed to Kansas Army National Guard Major Stephen W. Terry by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
The settlement agreement resolves Major Terry’s claim that KCKCC violated USERRA when it terminated Major Terry’s employment as the Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services at KCKCC following his return from military service. It includes the payment of lost wages to Major Terry and a requirement that KCKCC provide training to KCKCC management and human resources staff regarding servicemembers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under USERRA.
“When servicemembers leave their families and civilian jobs to serve our nation, USERRA protects them from discrimination and wrongful termination,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department is committed to safeguarding servicemembers’ rights under USERRA to freely serve their country without fear of losing their civilian jobs.”
“As a Navy reservist myself, I know the cost imposed on servicemembers when they are called to leave their home and work to serve and protect this great country. I missed the birth of my youngest daughter while serving in Afghanistan” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Now, it is my honor and our duty to make sure the employment rights of servicemembers are protected once they return home. My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by those who serve our country, and we thank them for their service.”
USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department prioritizes the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s website www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Source: Justice.gov
