CHARLESTON - A Lawrence County, Ohio, woman has filed a lawsuit against her former supervisor at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, claiming he sexually harassed her.
Bobbi J. Kirwan filed a suit July 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Ben Young and the hospital, claiming Young committed several sexually offensive acts against her.
According to the suit, Kirwan was employed at St. Mary's as a unit clerk for emergency services. Young is a charge nurse, and served as Kirwan's supervisor.
According to the suit, Kirwan made inappropriate verbal comments about sex and unwelcome sexual advances. Kirwan claims she was offended by his actions and asked him to stop.
"After Mrs. Kirwan refused Young's advances, he became abusive and treated her harshly," the suit says.
Kirwan claims she complained to other supervisors about her treatment, but St. Mary's did nothing to stop Young.
"Finally ... Kirwan felt that she had no choice but leave her employment due to the intolerable conditions," the suit says.
Kirwan claims St. Mary's violated West Virginia Code by allowing Young to continue harassing other employees.
Kirwan, through attorney Kristina Thomas Whiteaker, seeks an injunction against St. Mary's, ordering an on-going training program on sexual harassment and sex discrimination, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-1390
Hospital supervisor sexually harassed woman, suit says
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