WHEELING – Two lawsuits have been filed against Monoceros Ventures LLC after the plaintiffs claim a manager made inappropriate comments and actions that, when reported, were ignored.
Pickles LLC and Robert Rys were also named as defendants in the suits.
Skylar Carrington and Deana Youngblood were waitresses and bartenders at Pickles Eatery, according to two complaints filed in Ohio Circuit Court.
In June, Rys began operating and managing Pickles and began making inappropriate sexual comments toward Carrington and she reported the conducts to Youngblood, who then reported the conduct to the owners of the restaurant, according to the suits.
Carrington claims in mid-August, she was working when Rys walked behind her and “struck her very forcefully on her buttocks with his open hand.”
The strike was so hard that it caused Carrington to scream and it left a mark on her, according to the suit. After striking her, Rys just laughed.
Carrington claims she was forced to quit her job because the defendants would not do anything about Rys’ conduct.
Youngblood claims she was advised that Rys had physically struck Carrington and informed Rys that he should never touch or strike an employee, but his inappropriate conduct did not stop.
When Youngblood attempted to report the incidents to the owners, her employment was terminated within hours of reporting Rys’ conduct, according to the suits.
The defendants’ conduct amounted to unlawful retaliation and wrongful discharge in violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, according to the suits.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Sandra K. Law of Schrader Byrd & Companion.
Ohio Circuit Court case numbers: 17-C-314. 17-C-315