U.S. sues Ohio employer over harassment claims

7/8/2006

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued an Ohio firm after a worker in Putnam County allegedly was sexually harassed by a supervisor, then fired after a complaint was filed.

The suit in U.S. District Court in Toledo, announced yesterday, stems from an April, 2005, incident in Leipsic at a warehouse run by Exel Inc. of Westerville, Ohio. Jacqueline McNair of the EEOC's Cleveland office said investigators found the victim, Sandra Moreo, credible and asked the firm to resolve the situation. A settlement was not reached.

The federal agency said Ms. Moreo faced harassment daily from supervisor Derrick Rodriguez, who was suspended for three days. Afterward she was fired for "horseplay" with two male co-workers, even though the men kept their jobs.

An Exel spokesman declined comment on the litigation.