WINFIELD – A real estate agent accuses her former employer of sex and gender discrimination.
Cheryl Dawson filed her complaint December 28 against Old Colony Holding Company Inc. in Putnam Circuit Court.
According to the complaint, Dawson began working for Old Colony in 2006 as manager of the company’s flagship office in Charleston. She also purchased 30 shares of stock for $1,650 per share.
In November 2008, Dawson says her salary was reduced by about 20 percent and her benefits were decreased while still managing the Charleston office. In 2008 and 2009, Joe Miller took over management of the Putnam County and Charleston offices. Dawson says her responsibilities were amended, including focusing her efforts on Education Director for the company. In early 2009, she says her salary again was reduced by more than 30 percent and her benefits again were decreased.
In January 2011, Dawson was asked to manage the Putnam County office and to continue her involvement in training officers and sales personnel, including recruitment of sales staff. She says her salary was increased by about 10 percent, but she says that still was well below that of similarly situated male employees.
Dawson also says all employees’ salaries were reduced in 2008 and 2009 but were told salaries would be increased back and beyond after the real estate market rebounded. She says her salary never was increased as promised, but she says certain male employees did see those increases.
In early 2017, Dawson agreed to be an officer and vice president. She also assumed duties as sole trainer and recruiter. She moved between the Charleston and Putnam County offices. She says she was given extremely small office space with no windows despite the company knowing she had a Vitamin D deficiency.
She also says other officers were provided much more elegant and spacious offices in addition to the larger salaries and bonuses.
In January 2021, Dawson met with Miller and told him she was very unhappy with her working conditions and her concerns about her salary and benefits being significantly less than those of her male counterparts.
“Well, I guess you have a decision to make,” Miller told her, according to the complaint. She says no action was taken to investigate or remedy the situation.
On April 21, 2021, Dawson says she felt forced to resign because she didn’t think the situation would improve. She says the years of being discriminated against and treated unfairly became intolerable.
Dawson accuses Old Colony of sex/gender discrimination, violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, constructive discharge and intentional infliction of mental and emotional distress
She says the years of being discriminated against and treated unfairly became intolerable. She says she suffered severe mental and emotional distress.
Dawson says she has suffered lost front pay and back pay, bonuses, benefits and other monetary remuneration, pain, embarrassment, emotional and mental injury.
She seeks compensatory and punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
Dawson is being represented by Henry E. Wood III of Wood Law Office in Charleston.
Putnam Circuit Court case number 22-C-180