SCRANTON – A graphic designer at a Monroe County resort claims she endured years of sexual harassment at the hands of her supervisor, which has resulted in her being unable to properly do her job.
Jane Does 1-2 of Cresco first filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on June 11 versus Shawnee Holding, Inc. (doing business as “Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort”) of Shawnee and Jeromy Wo, of Stroudsburg.
“Doe 1 was hired on March 15, 2007 as Graphic Designer/Web Administrator at the Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, a position she was qualified for based on her extensive experience in art direction and graphic design. Doe 1 is a female. Doe 1 was subjected to a hostile environment/harassment based on gender stereotyping, gender identity and/or sex, which was severe and/or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of her work environment and make it more difficult for her to do her job,” the suit says.
The suit adds this would include Wo stripping out of his cycling attire and changing into work attire after his commute in front of Doe 1, Wo claiming Doe 1 was jealous of the victim of an alleged sexual assault which had occurred on the premises, Wo routinely asking questions about gay and lesbian sexual behavior and Wo regularly disclosing Doe 1’s sexual orientation when introducing her to new co-workers, among other incidents.
Though Doe 1 says she complained to the Human Resources department on multiple occasions and the facility’s General Manager Rob Howell, the harassment did not stop. After submitting a complaint to Howell, Doe 1 says she was written up for doing so, in violation of the facility’s Equal Opportunity policy.
Doe 1 was instructed that all of her complaints of harassment must first be brought to Wo, her direct supervisor and main harassment, who would then decide if her complaints should be taken to the Human Resources department, the suit says.
Wo then conducted Doe 1’s performance review, giving her a negative review and denying her a three percent raise, the suit says, while adding that if the plaintiff “fell in line” and didn’t cause any more trouble for Wo, the raise would be reassessed.
Wo added that he had to unilaterally approve any of the plaintiff’s work product, which she says was detrimental to her ability to perform her job, and that all of the above incidents were in violation of the Shawnee Harassment-Free Workplace Policy.
For counts of hostile work environment/harassment, wrongful discharge, retaliatory discharge, aiding and abetting, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium, the plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, attorney’s fees and injunctive relief, in the form of a neutral employment reference for Jane Doe No. 1, to enact and enforce an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, to provide appropriate training and to post notice of the result in this case at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort.
The plaintiffs are represented by Adrian K. Cousens and Anne K. Manley of Gross McGinley, in Allentown.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case 3:21-cv-01037
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com