Division of Juvenile Services accused of discrimination by Clarksburg man

CHARLESTON - A Clarksburg man is suing the acting director of the West Virginia Division of Juvenile Services after he claims he was discriminated against.

Stephanie Bond is the acting director of the West Virginia Division of Juvenile Services.

W. Todd Hayes, the former facility director of the Dr. Harriet B. Jones Treatment Center; and Traci Leonard were also named as defendants in the suit.

Ryan Lee Beatty was employed as a correctional officer at the Dr. Harriet B. Jones Treatment Center beginning on Dec. 2, 2012, according to a complaint filed Oct. 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Beatty claims he was subjected to sexually explicit and offensive comments and inappropriate touching by Leonard, who was his supervisor.

During the course of his employment, Beatty repeatedly asked Leonard to stop the harassment and touching and told her that it was inappropriate and embarrassed him, according to the suit.

Beatty claims he also reported his complaints to Hayes, who told him to talk to Leonard and "not come to... Hayes with all of his problems."

On April 29, Beatty filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against Leonard for sexual harassment and on May 2, he was called into Hayes' office, according to the suit.

Beatty claims Hayes stated that he had been informed of Beatty's EEOC complaint against Leonard and told him that he needed to "stop running his mouth to other people."

On May 27, Beatty resigned from his employment as a result of the sexual harassment and retaliation he had been subjected to, according to the suit.

Beatty claims the defendants violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and West Virginia common law.

The defendants unlawfully retaliated against Beatty and caused him damages; lost wages and benefits; and emotional distress, according to the suit.

Beatty is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by C. Benjamin Salango, Patrick J. Salango and Kristina M. Salango of Preston & Salango PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-1947