HUNTINGTON – A Kentucky woman is suing Bill Cole Automall after she claims she was discriminated against and a hostile work environment forced her to leave her employment.
CAG 2 LLC is doing business as Bill Cole Automall.
Cole Nissan and Gregory H. Rorrer, a supervisor at Bill Cole Automall, were also named as defendants in the suit.
Beverlie Lee worked for Bill Cole Automall for approximately 2.5 years and Rorrer was her supervisor during her employment, according to a complaint filed May 12 in Cabell Circuit Court.
Lee claims she was repeatedly subjected to sexual advances, a sexually-carged work environment, intimidation and discrimination as a result of her gender by various employees of Bill Cole Automall and was physically assaulted in a sexual way by one employee.
The plaintiff repeatedly reported the actions to Rorrer and no corrective action was ever taken by him or actions that were taken were taken unreasonably late, according to the suit.
Lee claims she was also paid less than her male counterparts in spite of comparable work performance and skills.
As a result of the hostile work environment, Lee was forced to resign on March 17, 2015, and in Summer 2015, she sought new employment with Dutch Miller Kia, Hometown Auto, Glockner Auto and Fannin Auto, but the defendants made false statements about her and prevented her from obtaining work elsewhere, according to the suit.
Lee claims the defendants were negligent and defamed her.
The defendants also called Lee to suffer emotional distress, according to the suit.
Lee is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Scott McClure and Jason Goad of McClure Goad PLLC.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 16-C-337