CHARLESTON – A former Frontier Communications employee has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the company.
Tara Vance filed her complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against Frontier of West Virginia and Kip Martin, who is a manager
According to the complaint, Vance began working for Frontier in 2000. She says she performed her job duties in a satisfactory manner.
She claims she began to be discriminated against because of her gender. She says it became so severe, she was constructively discharged from her job on September 1, 2023.
Vance says she complained about the harassment and discrimination to management and human resources. She says she exhausted any grievance procedure.
“Martin would talk down to the plaintiff or scream at her in a manner he did not do to male employees,” the complaint states. “The conduct was so severe plaintiff was advised anytime she had to go into a room with Martin to have someone on the phone with her.
“Defendant Martin also talked down to other females in a manner he did not do to males.”
Vance says she requested a transfer when the defendants didn’t take meaningful action to stop the harassment, but the request was refused.
She says she has suffered lost wages and benefits, out-of-pocket losses, emotional and mental distress, humiliation, anxiety, embarrassment, depression, aggravation, annoyance and inconvenience.
Vance accuses the defendants of gender discrimination in violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act and substantial public policy.
She seeks a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction ordering the defendants to establish ongoing training on the subject of sex discrimination in the workplace. She also seeks compensatory, general and punitive damages as well as court costs, attorney fees, pre- and post-judgment interests and other relief.
Vance is being represented by John Einreinhofer of Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 23-C-1002