CHARLESTON — A Kanawha County woman says she was demoted after filing a gender discrimination claim against her employer.
Suzanne S. Pozzie filed a lawsuit Feb. 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Big Sandy Furniture Inc. (doing business as Big Sandy Superstore), district manager Brian Chinn and supervisor Adam Dale, alleging unlawful reprisal and discrimination under the state’s Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Pozzie, 64, filed a gender discrimination complaint against Big Sandy Furniture because male employees are allegedly permitted to ridicule and threaten female employees with little or no discipline. After filing the complaint, Pozzie says she was demoted from her office manager post and her duties were given to a much younger male employee under a different title and with more pay than she received.
Pozzie seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages, plus legal fees. She is represented by attorneys Maria W. Hughes and Mark Goldner of Hughes & Goldner PLLC in Charleston.
Judge Tod J. Kaufman has been assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-185