CHARLESTON -- A Putnam County woman is suing the owners of the Charleston Town Center mall after she claims she was assaulted while at work.
Samuel Rose or John Doe was also named as a defendant.
Forest City Enterprises is doing business as the Charleston Town Center.
Brittany Hicks was employed as an assistant manager at Delias in the mall and was working when she claims a man believed to be Rose or Doe entered the store and committed unwelcome physical contact with her, according to a complaint filed June 21 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Hicks claims Rose or Doe had a history of criminal and/or harassing activity including committing battery and sexual misconduct upon women.
Forest City knew or should have known that Rose or Doe was a danger to people in the mall and was negligent in allowing him to be permitted on the premises, according to the suit.
Hicks claims the defendants' actions caused her severe and permanent mental anguish; emotional distress; pain and suffering; and physical injury.
The defendants' actions also caused Hicks to incur lost wages and loss of income, according to the suit.
Hicks is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by John Einreinhofer.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-1153