Anita Collins filed her lawsuit against Neighborhood Hospitality Inc., which operates a Wendy’s in South Williamson, Ky. David Curry and James Mollett also are named as defendants in the suit, which was filed Nov. 30 in Mingo Circuit Court.
Collins says she worked at the Wendy’s from April until Nov. 3 as a cook. She says she was sexually harassed during her employment by Mollett, who is a manager at the location. Both Curry and Mollett live in Mingo County, according to the complaint.
The harassment included unwanted attempts to establish a romantic relationship, inappropriate and explicit comments which were sexual in nature regarding Collins’ physique, attempts to procure sexual favors from her and fondling and touching, according to the complaint.
In the complaint, Collins describes one incident in August when she bent down to tie her shoe. Mollett said she could perform a sexual act on him “since she was already down there.” She reported the incident to Curry, who said “he would take care of it.”
In another incident in October, Collins says Mollett approached her in the parking lot and grabbed her buttocks and made comments about her behind. She says she reported the incident to Curry and Michael Ball. She says Mollett took similar actions against her various other times, all of which she reported to supervisors.
On Nov. 2, Collins says Mollett told her she had no “ass” in the black uniform pants she was wearing and that she should wear different pants to work. She says she replied by telling him to “kiss her ass.” The next day, she says she was fired by Ball for “not following company policies.”
As a result of the actions of the defendants, Collins says she suffered and continues to suffer from extreme mental anguish and suffering, loss of wages and benefits, loss of future earning capacity and benefits, loss of capacity to enjoy life, medical expenses, annoyance, inconvenience, embarrassment and humiliation.
She also says the actions were a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and that she was a victim of retaliation, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination. She says the actions were extreme and outrageous and that they were a result of negligent supervision.
She seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as court costs, attorney fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief.
Collins is being represented by attorneys Nathan D. Brown and Joshua Ferrell of Ferrell & Brown in Williamson. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Miki Thompson.
Mingo Circuit Court case number: 16-C-214