HUNTINGTON -- A Wayne County woman is suing Huntington Hammer after she claims she was subjected to sexual harassment during her employment.
The Ultimate Indoor Football League, Inc.; Assured Equities, LLC; Assured Equities IV Corp; Assured Equities V Corp.; Rogue Diva Racing, Inc.; and Dan Fisher were also named as defendants in the suit.
On May 2, Shannon Barnhouse was hired as an executive assistant with Huntington Hammer, according to a complaint filed Dec. 21 in Cabell Circuit Court.
Barnhouse claims since that date she was subjected to severe and pervasive sexual harassment by Fisher, the general manager.
The harassment included Fisher placing his arm around Barnhouse's waist and across her rear end on a daily basis; making comments about the size of her breasts, unwelcomed rubbing of her shoulders, head and back; telling her he liked working with hot blonds; and telling her that he would like to take naked pictures of her, according to the suit.
Barnhouse claims the conduct was severe and pervasive, as well as unwelcome and offensive.
The defendants also discriminated against Barnhouse due to her pregnancy, according to the suit.
Barnhouse claims Fisher would tell her to cross her legs so that "she would not go into labor and have the child in the office," and would tell her to go outside and "have her child on the sidewalk."
Fisher also told Barnhouse "not to bleed in the chair when she went into labor," and asked her to take maternity pictures of her naked and also forced her to go on maternity leave before she was planning to, according to the suit.
Barnhouse claims she was not paid to state or federal minimum wage rate and was not paid for overtime work.
The defendants also refused to restore Barnhouse to her former position after she returned from maternity leave, in violation of company policy and practice of returning non-pregnant employees who take leave to their position, according to the suit.
Barnhouse is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Amy C. Crossan.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 11-C-938
