Elsie Dominguez’s Journey
Elsie Dominguez has shared her story widely, participating in discussions on forums like Reddit and speaking out in various news articles.
While she hasn’t answered every comment directed at her, she has taken in the diverse perspectives of others who have experienced sexual violence at sea, similar to her own ordeal.
Many have suggested that Dominguez focus solely on her healing and ignore the discussions surrounding her case.
However, she feels a strong connection to the broader narrative of survivors and is determined to speak up.
She views her struggle not just as a personal battle, but as part of a larger effort toward justice for all who have faced similar circumstances.
At 34 years old, Dominguez, a Cuban-American from Queens, New York, filed a lawsuit against the Navy’s Military Sealift Command in November 2023.
She alleges that a civilian captain raped her in her cabin aboard the USNS Carson City in December 2021.
Following the incident, Dominguez claims she was met with insufficient support and limited options for recourse.
Legal Challenges and Advocacy
Currently, she is navigating a complicated legal landscape regarding workers’ compensation, which underscores the ambiguous legal framework that governs civilian mariners on Military Sealift Command vessels.
The court, at the government’s urging, has instructed her to pursue a workers’ compensation claim through the U.S. Department of Labor before she can continue with her lawsuit.
Dominguez and her legal team firmly assert that rape cannot be classified as an occupational hazard.
As her legal journey unfolds, Dominguez finds herself at a crucial crossroads.
Notably, both she and her alleged assailant, whose identity has yet to be revealed, remain employees of the Military Sealift Command.
Her accused attacker is currently on paid leave while the Naval Criminal Investigative Service conducts an investigation.
After some time away from work, Dominguez decided to return to sea, now serving as the first officer aboard the Expeditionary Mobile Base Lewis B. Puller.
She initially signed on for a three-week contract, viewing it as a test of her resolve and passion for her work.
By the end of this trial period, she felt rejuvenated and reassured about her career path.
Upon disclosing her past experiences and ongoing lawsuit to her new ship’s captain, she received supportive encouragement from both him and the chief engineer.
While she appreciates the camaraderie and understanding shown by her colleagues, Dominguez doubts that the maritime industry is experiencing significant cultural transformations.
She notes that although her personal experiences are encouraging, the work environment itself remains largely unchanged.
However, Dominguez also recognizes the toll her decision to speak out has taken on her career ambitions.
Once aspiring to be the first female chief engineer at her company, she has felt her aspirations sidelined, especially after another capable woman achieved that goal during her year-long absence for healing.
A Call for Change
To champion the rights of survivors, Dominguez is motivated to advocate for legal reform within the industry.
She believes her pursuit of justice can pave the way for meaningful changes.
The road ahead in her legal battle is expected to be long.
Unlike their uniformed Navy counterparts, civilian mariners lack clear procedures for reporting sexual assaults and seeking justice.
Dominguez describes the circumstances of her assault, alleging that the captain accessed her stateroom using a master code after they had both been drinking while the ship was docked in Brindisi, Italy.
She suspects she was drugged, only to awaken to find herself in the midst of an assault.
When she sought to report the incident and request a drug test the next day, she alleges that the chief engineer discouraged her, while the captain intimidated her.
A civilian advocate later informed Dominguez that she could not file an anonymous report, warning her that making an unrestricted report would lead to her being removed from the ship.
Dominguez continued to work on the Carson City for an additional ten months, taking various precautions to ensure her safety, such as blocking her door with a chair.
Despite her repeated requests, it wasn’t until eight months post-incident that the ship’s management installed a deadbolt lock on her cabin.
Christine Dunn, Dominguez’s attorney from Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, notes that they are now grappling with a challenging predicament.
Dominguez is contesting a 1952 Supreme Court decision that defines the Department of Labor’s Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) as the exclusive means for addressing job-related injuries, an interpretation the government asserts applies to her case as well.
Dunn has recently indicated that obtaining government approval to recognize her injuries as occurring on the job is a prerequisite for moving forward, despite Dominguez’s insistence that rape cannot be deemed a work-related injury.
They anticipate that the government will reject this claim, ultimately allowing them to take the matter to federal court.
The timeframe for a response from the Labor Department could range from 75 days to several months.
As she navigates the aftermath of her alleged assault, Dominguez shares that she now meticulously checks her door lock every night before sleep.
Identifying as a survivor has added a layer of vulnerability to her life, yet she stands firm in her choice to share her story.
Dominguez expresses a deep desire for open conversations about sexual violence within the industry, believing that dialogue can help prevent future incidents and create a safer working environment.
She is committed to being an approachable advocate for these critical issues, fostering discussions that could lead to transformative change.
Source: Militarytimes