CHARLESTON — A Fayette County woman is suing her former employer, alleging hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.
Connie Jean Armstrong filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against WVA Manufacturing LLC and Freddie Fruit, alleging violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Armstrong suffered severe and significant damages, including lost wages, loss of employment, emotional damage, fear, depression, mental anguish, embarrassment, psychological damage, humiliation, medical bills, aggravation, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of life as a result of the indecent, perverted and unethical conduct of defendants.
The suit says the defendants subjected her to sexual advances, harassment and batteries, such as groping Armstrong's private parts, making lewd gestures or directly asking her to engage in sexual intercourse.
The plaintiff alleges W.Va. Manufacturing and Freddie Fruit failed to reinforce any policy for the protection of ts employee, retained employees that harassed and assaulted Armstrong, verbally and physically attacked the plaintiff, and terminated her in bad faith without reasonable grounds.
Armstrong seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages, declaratory relief, permanent injunction, back pay and other benefits, costs of litigation, interest, and all further relief the court deems just. She is represented by attorneys Stuart Calwell, L. Dante di Tripano and D. Christopher Hedges of The Calwell Practice LC in Charleston, and by Lia Di Trapano of Di Trapano Law Firm PC in Charleston.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 18-C-1103