Woman says she was sexually harassed, wrongly fired from car dealer

HUNTINGTON - A Cabell County woman has filed a sexual discrimination suit against her former employer, claiming she was sexually harassed and wrongfully discharged.

Dorcas "Dora" Griggs filed the suit Jan. 9 in Cabell Circuit Court, against Tri-State Chrysler Jeep LLC and Lynn Hudnall.

Griggs was hired at Tri-State Chrysler in June 2007 as a sales associate. She claims Hudnall made numerous comments of a sexual nature, including references to her body.

According to the suit, Griggs claims she "had to fend for herself when Mr. Hudnall made these numerous, inappropriate sexual comments."

"Each time Mr. Hudnall made these comments in (Griggs') presence, she shot him a dirty look to case her disapproval," the suit says. "Mr. Hudnall's response was to laugh in her direction."

According to the suit, Hudnall hired his wife, also named Lynn Hudnall, as the Customer Relations Manager. Griggs claims she and Mrs. Hudnall had a good working relationship, but Mr. Hudnall continued making inappropriate comments about her, which were heard by several employees.

The relationship with Mrs. Hudnall and Griggs changed, with Hudnall becoming distant and viewing Griggs as a threat, the suit says.

Griggs claims she was called into the office during the evening of Nov. 19, 2007, for a meeting with Jeff Coleman and Mrs. Hudnall. Griggs was informed that her performance had slipped and was fired.

According to the suit, Mr. Hudnall created a hostile working environment by virtue of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual comments. Griggs claims her termination is a violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

Griggs seeks compensatory and punitive damages.