CHARLESTON — A woman is suing Highland Hospital Association claiming she was harassed during her employment and discriminated against, but the agency denies all allegations against it.
Bridgit Brown was employed for several years without any major disciplinary actions, however beginning approximately two months before her employment separation, she experienced harassment by the defendant and communicated that she would be hiring a lawyer to navigate the harassment, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Brown claims the harassment started directly after she'd made a complaint to the Kanawha County Department of Health about poor working conditions and mold.
"Plaintiff pleas that Defendant retaliated against her due to these complaints," the complaint states. "Harassment...included...moving Plaintiff around the facility to other positions, forcing Plaintiff to move offices, moving items in Plaintiff's workspace — then making efforts to write her up for the items that were moved by Defendant, making efforts to write Plaintiff up for leaving work early when it was cleared by a superior and other matters."
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendant placed Brown in a position to be constantly exposed to the public and she asked why she couldn't share the responsibilities with others to limit exposure, according to the suit.
Brown claims the defendant then moved her to different positions and then terminated her employment. She claims she would not have been terminated had she not made threats of legal action.
Brown is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is represented by D. Adrian Hoosier II of Hoosier Law Firm in Charleston.
In its answer, the defendant alleged that Brown failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
"Defendant denies that Plaintiff is entitled to any relief whatsoever..." the answer states.
The defendant is represented by Craig W. Snethen of Gordon & Rees in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 22-C-520