On May 21st, 2024, Kennedy Hunt P.C. filed a complaint against St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center-South and Missouri Department of Mental Health alleging sex discrimination and/or sexual harassment against the defendants in violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act.
According to the lawsuit, our client was employed by the defendants starting in June 1998 as a therapeutic service worker. Per the lawsuit, in or about 2022, another employee began subjecting our client to unwelcome sexual advances and inappropriate comments.
The lawsuit alleges:
In or about December 2022, the other employee’s inappropriate conduct increased in frequency and intensity. On or about December 19, 2022, the other employee touched our client on the abdomen and told our client he would “lick her face” if she tried to walk away from him. In or about December 2022, the other employee made comments to Plaintiff about the size of his penis.
According to the lawsuit, our client reported the actions to her immediate supervisor in January 2023. In response, per the lawsuit, the supervisor told our client to stay away from the other employee.
The lawsuit alleges that in a staff meeting in March 2023, the other employee asked our client in front of all the other attendees why she would not speak to or interact with him:
The plaintiff responded that she would only speak to him if it was work-related and would not engage in personal conversations. Both employee’s supervisors publicly reprimanded Plaintiff in the meeting for being “disrespectful” toward the other employee by refusing to communicate with him.
According to the lawsuit, a supervisor then publicly polled all other attendees by asking them to raise their hands if they were similarly uncomfortable interacting with the other employee.
Per the lawsuit:
On or about March 29, 2023, Plaintiff started the formal grievance with her union regarding the sexual harassment. On or about April 4, 2023, Plaintiff met with Defendants’ internal investigator. On or about April 14, 2023, Plaintiff filed an internal sexual harassment complaint with Defendants.
The lawsuit seeks emotional distress damages, punitive damages, compensatory damages, pre-and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees and costs, and any other relief the Court deems may be just and proper.
This case is ongoing.
For more information, contact attorney Nicole Matlock at nmatlock@kennedyhuntlaw.com. If you or someone you know has been a victim of discrimination, our skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim.