Former postal worker sues over sexual harassment

CLARKSBURG – A former employee of the Big Ben Post Office alleges her postmaster and a letter carrier created a hostile work environment for her.

Kathryn E. Munson filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Nov. 26 against the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Postmaster General John Potter, former Big Ben Postmaster Richard Dobson and former carrier William McCray.

Munson claims she was suffered discrimination, infliction of emotional distress and mental anguish and was forced to work in a hostile environment in retaliation for filing a sexual harassment complaint.

According to the suit, Munson was terminated in December 2007 from her postal service position following the exhaustion of her administrative remedies. She claims the reason for her termination was misconduct that occurred outside of the workplace and was used as a pretext to discharge her.

She filed the civil action alleging she was fired in retaliation for reporting that Dobson and McCray violated postal procedures by making sexually explicit comments to postal customers and to her.

Following her report, Munson said the two men began a continual pattern of sexual harassment and derogatory conduct creating an extremely hostile environment.

The conduct included sexually offensive language to customers, including remarks about sex with a dog. She alleges McCray said he didn't wear underwear in the summer and told postal customers that he could still "get his up."

Also, Munson says McCray made inappropriate body contact with her at work.

Munson complains no charges ever were filed against McCray or Dobson by the U.S. Postal Service, although both admitted to their misconduct. She says that by failing to bring charges against them, the Postal Service accepted and ratified their conduct. Both McCray and Dobson resigned, but neither one was penalized or lost any benefits.

Munson seeks compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, humiliation and an award of punitive damages in an amount appropriate for the defendant for willful and malicious conduct.

Attorneys Richard Patrick and David Goldberg are representing Munson.

U.S. District Court case number: 1:08-cv-00211-IMK