CHARLESTON – A former employee is suing Ibex Global for wrongful termination after she claims she was sexually harassed by a co-worker.
Trista King was hired by Ibex in August 2013 as Internet Technical Support, according to a complaint filed April 28 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
King claims she faithfully performed all her duties throughout her tenure as an employee.
Ibex controlled the terms and conditions of employment for its employees, including the promotion and termination of staff, according to the suit.
King claims in 2013, she became the victim of unfair treatment due to her gender and was subjected to disciplinary action when male employees participated in the same conduct and were not disciplined.
As a result of the defendant's actions, King suffered severe emotional distress and was the victim of a hostile work environment in which she was subjected to sexual innuendoes.
King claims she complained in good faith about the sexual remarks made to her supervisors and filed a formal internal complaint of discrimination and harassment.
The defendant investigated King's complaint and terminated the male employee who made the sexual remarks, but then rehired the male employee, putting him on the same shift as King, where she continued to suffer from contact with the male employee, according to the suit.
King claims the defendant was aware of the unwanted sexual touching she endured at the hands of the co-worker and subjected her to on-going harassment
The defendant retaliated against King by terminating her employment on Feb. 8, 2014, according to the suit.
King claims the defendant's outrageous and intentional conduct caused harm and severe emotional distress, fright, horror, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, chagrin, disappointment, worry, nausea and permanent mental and physical distress and injury.
King is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Clinton W. Smith.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-814