Woman blames Kristi Enterprises for hostile working environment

MADISON - A Princeton woman is suing Kristi Enterprises LLC after she claims she was subjected to a sexually harassing and hostile working environment.

Terry Sanders was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Karie Puffenbarger was employed at Kristi Enterprises as a video lottery attendant from approximately November 2011 until May, according to a complaint filed Nov. 1 in Boone Circuit Court.

Puffenbarger claims Sanders, who was her supervisor overseeing day-to-day operations at Kristi's Princeton location, was her direct supervisor.

Shortly after Puffenbarger began working for the defendants, she was subject to a sexually harassing and hostile environment created by Sanders, according to the suit.

Puffenbarger claims on multiple occasions, Sanders would gesture, grab and rub on customers, as well as make explicit comments to them and in front of them.

Kristi's failed to remediate, correct and/or eliminate the sexually harassing environment created by Sanders, according to the suit.

Puffenbarger claims Kristi's knew and/or should have known of the sexual harassing environment, as the main source of the inappropriate behavior originated by its supervisor in charge.

The environment caused and/or contributed to Puffenbarger feeling disgusted, afraid, ashamed, distressed, upset and confused, according to the suit.

Puffenbarger claims the defendants violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and caused her to suffer indignity, embarrassment and mental anguish.

Puffenbarger is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Kathy A. Brown of Kathy Brown Law PLLC and Valentina Wheeler of Wheeler Law Firm.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge William S. Thompson.

Boone Circuit Court case number: 13-C-231