Charleston couple sues Metro 911 for sexual harassment

CHARLESTON - A woman who worked at Metro Communications is claiming she was sexually harassed and retaliated against during her employment.

Cassandra Woods and her husband Shawn filed the lawsuit May 4 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

"Starting on or about April 10, 2005, and continuing thereafter, Defendant subjected Mrs. Woods to a sexually hostile work environment and retaliated against her once she complained," the complaint says.

Roger Forman of Charleston law firm Forman and Huber is representing the plaintiffs.

The complaint states that Cassandra Woods complained June 2, 2005, to Denise Clark and Carolyn Charnock of inappropriate and unwanted sexual touching by co-worker David Shaughnessy.

It adds that her complaint was met by a sarcastic remark from Charnock, who replied, "If my husband knew how many times men hit on me …"

Woods claims that after her complaint nothing was done, and she experienced further harassment.

"In response to those complaints, rather than protecting Mrs. Woods, the defendant placed her in a position where she had to relieve Mr. Shaughnessy and in doing so experienced further physical attack and retaliation from him, as well as allowing him to sabotage her work by not communicating as necessary when she relieved him," the complaint says.

Shawn Woods says he has had a very troubling loss of consortium and household services, as well as depression and anxiety as a result.

Cassandra Woods says she has suffered a loss of income, serious emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment and medical bills.

"Defendant signaled her out in the manner in which they dealt with her and exposed her to anger and ostracism by her fellow employees," the complaint says.

Judge James Stucky has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-837