Woman sues jail authority for hostile work environment

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority after she claims a fellow employee caused a hostile work environment.

Lt. Jimmy Vance was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Tammy Gleason was employed by the defendant and worked under Vance's authority, according to a complaint filed Feb. 24 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Gleason claims during her employment she and Vance became involved in an intimate relationship and after the relationship ended, Vance created a hostile work environment which forced her to resign from her employment.

When the relationship ended, Vance began to retaliate against Gleason by making inappropriate comments about her; assigning her jobs and shifts that interfered with her home life; and sending her inappropriate texts and by making inappropriate calls, according to the suit.

Gleason claims the retaliatory conduct was unwelcome and unwanted.

In November 2011, Gleason resigned from her position because she could no longer tolerate the hostile working condition and stress that had been created as a result of the conflict with Vance, according to the suit.

Gleason claims the defendants' actions violate the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

The state jail authority also neglected its duty to ensure that Gleason's work environment was free from intimidation and hostile sexual harassment, according to the suit.

Gleason is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Paul M. Stroebel.

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

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-352