WHEELING—A Jefferson County, Ohio, resident filed suit against her employer claiming unlawful harassment and termination in a 2014 series of incidents allegedly involving overt sexual aggression by a co-worker.
Robin Coleman of Dillonvale filed a complaint against CMS of Delaware Inc., doing business as CMS Oil Field Services, and Jeff Templin on June 22 in Ohio Circuit Court, asserting unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation in her November 2014 job dismissal.
According to the filing, Robin Coleman was employed as a dispatcher and Jeff Templin was employed as a truck driver, both by CMS of Delaware.
The suit states that the defendant attempted to sexually assault the plaintiff in the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 2014, when she was working a night shift alone. According to the filing, after Coleman reported the incident to her supervisor on the same day, Templin’s behavior persisted despite her requests for him to stop.
Coleman claims that her employment was terminated on or about Nov. 5, 2014, in an act of retaliation for reporting Templin’s activity.
Alleging unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of state law, the plaintiff claims lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, humiliation and mental anguish.
Holding CMS liable for its employee’s behavior as well as its own willful conduct, Coleman seeks compensatory and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
She is represented by Ben Salango and Kristina Salango of Preston & Salango in Charleston.
Ohio Circuit Court case number: 15-C-191