Former Commonwealth Mining employee files sexual harassment suit

BECKLEY - A woman is suing for sexual harassment after being fired in alleged retaliation for rejecting her supervisor's sexual demands.

Beth Waugh filed a lawsuit Dec. 5 in Raleigh County Circuit Court against Commonwealth Mining LLC and Calvin Cox, citing unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation.

The complaint states Waugh was employed by Commonwealth Mining at its Pocahontas No. 2 surface mine as a coal miner. She says it was customary for employees to ride to the mine site with their supervisor, defendant Calvin Cox.

She says on Oct. 14, other employees were absent from work, and she rode alone to the mine with Cox. Waugh alleges on that day, instead of going directly to the mine site, Cox drove down a side road and attempted to sexually assault her.

She further alleges that on Oct. 20, in retaliation of her rejecting Cox's sexual demands, Cox transferred her to a different crew with more significant physical demands. She says on Nov. 3, and in retaliation of her rejecting Cox's sexual demands, Cox terminated her employment.

Waugh is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages, punitive damages and attorney's fees. She is being represented in the case by attorneys C. Benjamin Salango and Kristina M. Salango.

Raleigh County Circuit Court Civil Action No. 13-C-1016