Woman claims retaliation for reporting sexual harassment

WAYNE - An Ohio woman is suing Wayne County Community Services Organization Inc. after she claims she was retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment.

Susan K. Jarrell was employed by the defendant as a registered nurse case manager and, during her employment, performed her duties in a satisfactory manner and met the defendant's reasonable expectations, according to a complaint filed Sept. 13 in Wayne Circuit Court.

Jarrell claims she and others were subjected to sexual harassment/hostile work environment by a management employee of the defendant.

The employee, among other things, "would make repeated inappropriate comments of a sexual nature at work, would view pornography on his work computer which was visible to other employees and would make unwelcome sexual advances toward employees of the defendant," according to the complaint.

Jarrell claims the improper conduct had "the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the plaintiff's work performance and/or created an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment."

After notifying the defendant of the employee's sexual harassment/hostile work environment, Jarrell's employment was terminated, according to the suit.

Jarrell claims the defendant's actions were willful, wanton, malicious and/or undertaken with reckless disregard and/or reckless indifference to her rights.

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

Jarrell is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. She is being represented by Mark A. Atkinson and Paul L. Frampton Jr. of Atkinson & Polak PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Darrell Pratt.

Wayne Circuit Court case number: 13-C-186