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Settlement Reached in El Paso Zoo Employee's Wrongful Termination Case

KVIA•Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 11:45 PM•Lauren Bly

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AI Summary

A wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Anahi Chavez Villegas, a former employee of the El Paso Zoo, has been dismissed following a settlement. Villegas alleged sexual harassment by her supervisor, John Kiseda, and claimed that her complaints were mishandled by former Zoo Director Joe Montisano. The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, detailed how Montisano discouraged her from reporting the harassment to human resources. Despite acknowledging her complaint, Villegas faced unfair treatment and was ultimately terminated in April 2024 after an authorized absence. The case was dismissed with prejudice, preventing any future legal action on the matter. Montisano has since resigned, while Kiseda remains employed by the city.

Key Details: • Settlement details remain confidential after dismissal with prejudice. • Villegas reported harassment in November 2023; lawsuit filed in December 2024. • Montisano had faced 10 formal complaints prior to this case. • Villegas was fired in April 2024 after missing work with permission.

settlement el-paso-zoo wrongful-termination harassment city-employees

People & Organizations

City of El PasoEl Paso ZooJohn KisedaJoe MontisanoAnahi Chavez Villegas

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