Former employee sues CAMC for allegedly hostile work environment

CHARLESTON – A former employee is using Charleston Area Medical Center for failing to step in when she was sexually harassed by a physician.

Dr. Asif Rahman was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Sarah Ramella was employed at CAMC as a nurse and was assigned to work in the Medical Intensive Care Unit on the fifth floor at CAMC Memorial Division, according to a complaint filed Feb. 5 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Ramella claims Rahman was an independent contractor who worked in the capacity of a physician of nephrology at CAMC.

From February through November, Rahman created a hostile work environment when he intentionally, wrongfully and unlawfully sexually harassed and battered Ramella, according to the suit.

Ramella claims Rahman followed her into patient’s rooms, inappropriately touched her, grabbed her, bit her ear, made inappropriate comments and stared at her to the point of making her feel uncomfortable.

In September, when Ramella asked Rahman for a referral for nurse anesthetist school, he indicated that a sexual favor would be required for a referral, according to the suit.

Ramella claims CAMC failed to provide her with a non-hostile and productive work environment free from sexual harassment by failing to discipline, monitor or take appropriate action against Rahman.

The defendants caused Ramella to suffer repeated, unwanted and unwelcome sexual touching; repeated batteries; anxiety; humiliation; annoyance and inconvenience; degradation and mortification; invasion of privacy; her personal dignity affronted; damage to her reputation; emotional pain and suffering; lost wages; and future lost wages, according to the suit.

Ramella is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Lia DiTrapano Fairless and L. Tom Price.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-240