CHARLESTON – A woman is suing JAK Productions after she claims it created a hostile work environment when another employee distributed compromising photos of her.
Geoffrey Thompson was also named as a defendant in the suit.
In February 2016, while at the JAK worksite, Thompson took possession of Elizabeth Bumgarner’s cellular telephone and began to search through the data stored on her cell phone, according to a complaint filed Aug. 21 in Wood Circuit Court and removed to federal court Sept. 26.
Bumgarner claims Thompson discovered private, compromising pictures of her and took photos of the screen with his own cell phone, including pictures of Bumgarner nude.
Thompson not only viewed the photos, but also showed the photos to other JAK employees, according to the suit.
Bumgarner claims the defendants created a hostile or abusive work environment.
Shortly after becoming aware of what had occurred, Bumgarner reported the incident to her superiors at JAK and her complaints were ignored and she was forced to resign from her position, according to the suit.
Bumgarner claims the defendants’ conduct was so extreme or outrageous that it constitutes the tort of outrage and was an invasion of privacy.
The defendants were negligent and caused Bumgarner’s damages, according to the suit.
Bumgarner is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by George J. Cosenza.
JAK is represented by Samuel M. Brock III and Chelsea E. Richmond of Spilman Thomas & Battle.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 2:17-cv-04044
