Former employee accuses Charleston physician of sexual harassment

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing a Charleston physician after she claims he constantly sexually harassed her for more than six months.

In July 2010, Brandi N. Aldridge was hired as a receptionist for Dr. Alfredo C. Velasquez and his office in Kanawha County, according to a complaint filed July 12 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Aldridge claims on Dec. 14, 2010, Velasquez began a course of conduct of sexually harassing her by giving her catalogs in which he had marked pages advertising sexual toys and asked if she wanted one as a Christmas gift.

Despite informing Velasquez that she was not interested, he asked Aldridge again on Dec. 23, 2010, if he could purchase a sex toy for her and inquired as to whether or not her husband would mind, according to the suit.

Aldridge claims from January until May, Velasquez continued to ask her if he could buy her sex toys and at one point in May grabbed her breasts.

After being shocked and embarrassed, Aldridge left work and did not return, according to the suit.

Aldridge claims until June 12, Velasquez called and repeated attempted to get her to return to work and promised the harassment would stop, so she returned to work. She claims the harassment did not stop, so she quit her job on June 27.

Velasquez's conduct created a hostile work environment and constituted as discriminatory conduct, according to the suit.

Aldridge is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Matthew S. Criswell and Mark L. French.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1158