Former employee sues Employee Resource Group for sexual harassment

CHARLESTON - A former employee is suing Employee Resource Group after he claims he was sexually harassed.

Greg Wolfe was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Joey Barnett began his employment with ERG in 2008 as a bartender, according to a complaint filed July 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Barnett claims he never received a raise he was supposed to receive and Wolfe sexually harassed him.

Wolfe "also rubbed his genital area up against Mr. Barnett and slapped Mr. Barnett on his rear end on multiple occasions," according to the suit.

Barnett claims Wolfe interfered with his right to work in an environment free of sexual abuse and harassment.

Wolfe's discriminating and harassing conduct was ongoing and continuous, according to the suit.

Barnett claims despite numerous calls to ERG's complaint hotline, nothing was ever done about Wolfe's sexual harassment.

The defendants violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and breached their contract with Barnett, according to the suit.

Barnett is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Kristina Thomas Whiteaker and David L. Grubb of the Grubb Law Group.

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

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-1295