Man says he was sexually harassed in coal mines

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing Remington, LLC, after he claims he was sexually harassed while working in West Virginia coal mines.

Ronnie Hall is an experienced underground coal miner who has worked in West Virginia mines for nearly 30 years, according to a complaint filed Sept. 30 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Hall claims he began working for Remington in 2009 and had previously worked for the company in 2007 and 2008.

For the entirety of his employment with Remington, Hall was continuously and severely harassed by a limited number of Remington employees, according to the suit.

Hall claims on numerous occasions, the employees would corner him and antagonize, harass and bully him. Hall claims he would always respond by telling the employees to stop the harassment and that it was not appreciated.

Additionally, Hall was continuously sexually harassed by a Remington employee who, on several occasions, touched him inappropriately and was asked to kiss the employee, according to the suit.

Hall claims the employee "also would expose himself to Mr. Hall and ask if he 'wanted some of this.'"

Remington failed to correct the problems even after Hall made numerous complaints, according to the suit.

Hall is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Thomas A. Rist.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1723