Woman sues General Anesthesia Services for discrimination

CHARLESTON - A former employee is suing General Anesthesia Services Inc. for allegedly discriminating against her based on her sex.

Myra Parley was employed by the defendant as a physician scheduled and made $27,000 annually, working five days a week for eight hours each day, according to a complaint filed July 25 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Parsley claims during her employment she was harassed on the basis of her sex and, as part of her job duties, was required to deliver lunch to her supervisor, William Morningstar, in his office.

In November 2009, when she entered into Morningstar's office with his lunch, she found him viewing pornography on his computer and was shocked and embarrassed, but Morningstar said nothing, according to the suit.

Parsley claims in October 2010, she was called into Morningstar's office and asked to go under his desk and connect wires for his computer. However, when she was under his desk, he "sat in his desk chair and rolled up close to the desk, with his legs forming a V, facing in the direction of Plaintiff," the suit says.

Morningstar's position was such that Parsley had no way to exit from under the desk without moving him out of her way and he sat in that position for several minutes while she connected the wires, according to the suit.

Parsley claims eventually a co-worker entered the office unexpectedly and she spoke up from underneath the desk, resulting in Morningstar moving away from the desk.

When she was able to get out from underneath Morningstar's desk, Parsley left his office, humiliated, according to the suit.

Parsley claims she was continuously subjected to sexually offensive behavior and approximately three months before her employment ended, she suffered anxiety issues and was off work for two weeks, as per her doctor's request.

When Parsley returned to work, she was given the cold shoulder by other employees and was treated differently, according to the suit.

Parsley claims she received a poor evaluation of her work performance and on Feb. 20, she resigned from her job.

The defendant caused Parsley damages, according to the suit.

Parsley claims she was subjected to sexual harassment during her employment and was discriminated against based on her sex.

The defendant's actions violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act, according to the suit.

Parsley is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by D. Christopher Hedges and David L. Grubb of the Grubb Law Group.

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

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-1398