Employee accuses WesBanco of discrimination

WHEELING – An Ohio County woman is suing over claims she was denied a promotion due to her gender.

Patricia A. Lowe filed a lawsuit Aug. 7 in Ohio Circuit Court against WesBanco Bank Inc. and WesBanco Inc. of Wheeling, citing discrimination.

According to the complaint, Lowe is an employee of WesBanco and in December 2012, her direct supervisor, John Moore, executive vice president, human resources, retired. Lowe says that a few years previous, she began to be assigned some of Moore's responsibilities which she performed well and she told Moore she would be interested in becoming his successor.

The complaint states he replied with offensive comments disparaging her gender and commenting that she was "too uppity" and "didn't know her place."

Lowe says she again expressed interest in the position in January 2013, and was told internal applicants would not be considered. According to the suit, the department then hired a male applicant, whose salary was more than twice Lowe's and whom Lowe was required to train. The defendants are accused of violating the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

Lowe is seeking damages, attorney fees and lost wages and benefits.

She is represented by attorney Walt Auvil of Rusen & Auvil in Parkersburg. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ronald E. Wilson.

Ohio Circuit Court case number 14-C-228