Woman accuses ex-employer of sexual harassment

PRINCETON — A Mercer County woman has sued an automotive dealer, alleging wrongful termination.

Melinda Bailey filed a lawsuit May 4 in Mercer Circuit Court against Ramey Automotive Group Inc., alleging gender discrimination and sexual harassment by her employer in 2014.

According to the complaint, Bailey endured humiliation caused by lewd comments, improper behaviors, and explicit unwelcome physical advances from male colleagues. The suit says Bailey was ridiculed for her clothing, called epithets, told she would advance in her job if she slept with a supervisor, subjected to inappropriate text messages and targeted with vulgar physical gestures.

The suit states that following a lack of response to her request for an internal investigation, Bailey resigned her job under duress in fall 2014 and received unemployment benefits. The complaint says Bailey was treated differently than other workers because she complained about the purported harassment.

The plaintiff cites Ramey Automotive for unlawful behavior and causing annoyance, aggravation, financial hardship and emotional distress.

Bailey seeks compensatory and punitive damages, interest, attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorney Anthony Salvatore of Hewitt & Salvatore in Fayetteville. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn.

Mercer Circuit Court case number: 15-C-165-09