HUNTINGTON - A former customer service representative at Allied Waste filed a suit against a manager at the company after she claims he repeatedly sexually harassed her.
Attorney Ashley Lockwood filed a suit April 5 in Cabell Circuit Court on behalf of Kim Butcher, naming Allied Waste, Donald Morgan and Tom Rowsey as defendants.
Butcher claims Morgan repeatedly sexually harassed her, eventually causing her to leave her job.
According to the suit, Morgan's "offensive conduct and sexual harassment" began almost immediately after Butcher started working at Allied Waste and continued until she left, nearly six years.
The suit states Morgan was explicit in his harassment, telling Butcher fantasies he had about her, touching her without his consent and trying to kiss her neck, among other incidents.
"Donald Morgan has driven by her house on occasions apparently peering into her backyard pool area and commented at work on how good she looks in a specific bathing suit," the lawsuit states.
According to the suit, Butcher refused Morgan's advances and frequently told him to get away from her, and Morgan told Butcher he could fire her if he so chose.
Butcher claims she complained to her supervisors on multiple occasions, yet no apparent corrective or disciplinary action occurred.
According to the suit, Tom Rowsey, the general manager, told Butcher "not to make a report 'outside' of the office because it would make them 'look bad.'"
Butcher claims the inactions of the company were is direct disregard to her rights and she left Allied Waste because of the failure to fix the hostile work environment and sexual harassment.
In the six-count suit, Butcher claims the company was negligent and reckless in regard to her rights and she seeks punitive and compensatory damages. She also seeks for the court to enter an injunction against the company, ordering them to establish a training program on sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace.
The case has been assigned to Judge John L. Cummings.
Cabell Circuit Court case number 07-C-284
