The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission today announced it has issued a final decision holding the Research Institute for Hawaii USA and CEO Christopher Damon Haig liable for religious and sexual harassment and discrimination.

The case involved RIH’s former executive director Kay Lorraine Bate, according to a commission press release.

Last week the five-member commission stated in a 66-page decision that “the weight of the evidence shows that Haig’s harassment of Complainant was based on a combination of two protected factors — because Complainant was Jewish and a woman.”

The commission also found that Bate was terminated because of her religion and for complaining about the harassment.

Screen shot, Sept. 3, 2014.

RIH and Haig have been ordered to pay Bate $343,200 in back pay, $200,000 in compensatory damages “for injury to her feelings, emotions, and mental well-being” and $300,000 in punitive damages.

The commission also ordered RIH to implement “a non-discrimination policy and to cease and desist from discriminating against all employees on the basis of religion or sex.”

HCRC Executive Director William Hoshijo brought the case for hearing after an investigation of Bate’s employment discrimination complaint. Attorneys Margery Bronster and Susan Ichinose represented Bate while attorney Bruce Voss represented RIH and Haig.

“This final decision is significant for two reasons,” said HCRC Executive Director Hoshijo, “strong state civil rights protections against religious and sexual harassment as well as affirming that there is no place for anti-Semitism or other religious discrimination in Hawaii.”

The commission’s decision may be appealed to the state Circuit Court within 30 days of its issuance.