A Philadelphia woman is suing her former employer after allegedly being fired for reporting sexual harassment and for gender-based discrimination.
Maria Matheu filed suit against JBS Souderton Inc. of Souderton on Sept. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, citing violations of the Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, while working with the company for eight months, Matheu's boyfriend, who worked with her, was told sexually charged things about her by employee Marcel Denerat. The complaint states that Matheu asked Denerat not to speak with her after hearing these remarks because they made her uncomfortable. Denerat responded by calling her a derogatory term and issuing death threats, which she reported to the police. The complaint states that she reported the incident to management and the human resources department but her claims were not properly investigated or resolved. She was then terminated without explanation for what she believes is the fact that she reported Denerat.
Matheu is seeking a judgment that directs JBS Souderton Inc. to make a policy preventing sexual harassment and retaliation against any employee in the future; reimbursement for her punitive damages for pain, suffering and humiliation; and court costs. She is represented by Ari R. Karpf of Karpf, Karpf and Cerutti PC in Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 2:15-cv-05328-CMR