PHILADELPHIA — A former employee of Berks Gymnastic Academy is suing the establishment and her supervisor for allegations of sexual assault.
Sarah Lorish filed a lawsuit on April 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against GBA Inc., doing business as Berks Gymnastic Academy, and Richard Fiorentino, citing violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and assault and/or battery.
According to the complaint, Lorish was employed by the defendant from the summer of 2012 through Oct. 28, 2014, working as a part-time coach. The plaintiff claims that before employment, she had been a student of the defendant, who allegedly treated her in an inappropriately sexual manner as a student and an employee.
On March 22, 2014, the defendant reportedly made an unwanted sexual advance to the plaintiff and continued the behavior until the plaintiff felt forced to resign on Oct. 28, 2014, the suit alleges.
Lorish seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, punitive damages, costs of the suit, and attorney’s fees. She is represented by James E. Gavin of Masano Bradley, in Wyomissing.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 5:16-cv-01641-JFL