Former Burger King employee sues for sexual harassment

MORGANTOWN -- A former employee is suing the Sabraton Burger King and two individuals after he claims he was forced to quit his job because he could no longer tolerate being sexually harassed.

KB Fast Foods is doing business as the Burger King in Sabraton and is owned by Karen Bishop.

Throughout 2009, Stephen P. Taylor, of Preston County, was physically and sexually groped by his co-worker and supervisor, Shannon Freshcorn, according to a complaint filed in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Taylor claims Freshcorn had conversations with him that were constantly interlaced with sexual innuendo, sexual profanities and sexual propositions; and prodded and squeezed his genital area.

"The sexual groping and verbal barrage of sexually-charged comments was unwanted and unreciprocated by the plaintiff," the complaint says.

Taylor repeated reported the unwanted physical touching to his superiors, assistant manager Joe Raleigh and district manager Tony Jones, according to the suit.

Finally, Taylor claims he was forced to quit his job because he could no longer tolerate the sexual harassment, which was "humiliating, embarrassing, disgusting and demeaning, which created an extremely hostile work environment."

Taylor claims he has suffered loss of income and benefits; damage to his physical health and well being; mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety and other adverse mental and emotion effects; loss of standing and reputation in the community; and financial and other hardship.

Taylor is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by David Grunau.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 10-C-92