CHARLESTON – A company accused of gender discrimination against a former employee wants to move the case from state to federal court.
The petition was filed April 28 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Charleston Division
In the original complaint, Rebecca A. Hunter filed a lawsuit March 21 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Otis Elevator Co., alleging sexual discrimination and wrongful termination.
Elliot, a six-year employee of Otis Elevator, says that after she took a week off under doctor’s orders for a difficult pregnancy in 2015, the firm’s general manager called her at home and informed her that she was being terminated. She is seeking punitive and compensatory damages, plus litigation fees and interest.
Otis Elevator says the case is a federal matter because the plaintiff and defendant are in different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
Otis Elevator is represented by attorney Erin Elizabeth Magee of Jackson Kelly PLLC in Charleston. Elliot is represented by Charleston attorney Richard W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer PLLC.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Charleston Division Case number 2:16-cv-04018