Woman says she was sexually, religiously harassed at Pizza Hut

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County woman has filed a suit against a local pizza restaurant, claiming she was sexually and religiously harassed during her employment there.

Amanda Tyler filed the suit Aug. 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Midland Food Services, which does business as Pizza Hut in St. Albans. The suit also names Edward Houck and John Doe as defendants.

Tyler claims John Doe, a supervisor at Pizza Hut, committed unwelcome acts of sexual and offensive behavior. She claims she was also discriminated against and harassed because of her religion.

Tyler is a member of the Pentecostal church. She wears long skirts, and does not wear makeup or cut her hair as part of her religious beliefs, the suit says.

According to the suit, John Doe made sexual advances and crude comments to her while at work.

Among the harassment, John Doe said she wore skirts because it was "easier access," the suit says. He also required her to clean baseboards and said it was so he could "look up her skirt."

According to the suit, he also tried to stuff her tips down her shirt and he slapped her bottom, leaving a wet handprint.

When Tyler went to Houck with complaints of harassment she claims he said, "You know you like it," the suit says.

The conditions continued until Tyler felt they were so intolerable that she had no choice but to quit her job.

Tyler claims she suffered economic loss, emotional and mental distress, humiliation, anxiety, fear, apprehension, embarrassment, depression, aggravation, annoyance, inconvenience and loss of capacity to enjoy life.

She also claims Doe and Houck violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

In the two-count suit, Tyler seeks lost wages and front pay, as well as compensatory damages for the emotional and mental distress she suffered.

Attorney Kristina Thomas Whiteaker is representing Tyler. The case has been assigned to Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker.