Co-Owner Allegedly Grabs Female Employee, Makes Sexual Innuendos, and Accuses Her of Short Changing Cash Register.

David ManesLawsuits & Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Employee Files Lawsuit against The Spot Etc and David Calloway for Sexual Harassment

Melodie became a bartender at The Spot Etc in April 2013. Three years later, in November, Melodie recalls an incident with David Calloway, one of the co-owners of The Spot Etc. According to Melodie, he came up behind her and grabbed her, saying, “Look at me when I’m talking to you.” Melodie pulled back and informed him not to grab her. In which case, he told her to “get your stuff and leave.” Melodie finished up her responsibilities for the night and left.

When she checked the schedule, she noticed that she wasn’t on it. Melodie approached the other co-owner and asked about it as well as to voice her tiredness over Calloway’s behavior. The co-owner asked Melodie, “What are you going to do about it?” but did not offer to make any changes himself. In fact, the co-owner allegedly told Melodie to “stick up for herself.”

According to Melodie, Calloway’s behavior only intensified. After making him a cocktail during her shift, Calloway gave her a cash tip. She thanked him. Melodie shared that he told her that if she had sex with him that she could have his credit card. He walked around the bar and allegedly slapped Melodie’s buttocks with an open palm.

Melodie pointed out that Calloway worked sexual innuendos into nearly every conversation with her. Besides the sexual comments, Melodie shared that Calloway accused her nearly once a month of the cash register being short. One time, according to Melodie, he even kept her tips after such an accusation.

Things continued to worsen. During a busy shift, Melodie juggled drink orders and apparently failed to hear Calloway’s cocktail order. Calloway came to the bar, yelling at Melodie “I’m the fucking boss, when I tell you to do something you do it!” When he grabbed her, Melodie pulled away, telling him never to touch her again. She tried to move away from him, but he shoved her. Two bystanders intervened.Then, Melodie was told to leave because Calloway was allegedly in the kitchen brandishing a knife, threatening her. Then, Melodie was told to leave because Calloway was allegedly in the kitchen brandishing a knife, threatening her.

Melodie did not return to The Spot Etc because she was “tired of being treated like shit.” Meanwhile, Calloway stated to the other employees that Melodie had been fired. Melodie refused to return to a hostile work environment since the other co-owner refused to do anything to resolve the situation. As a client of KM&A, Melodie is standing up for her employee rights and fighting against sexual harassment. KM&A advocates on the behalf of men and women like Melodie who have suffered sexual harassment.

 

Full text of this complaint, as filed with the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is available at docket no: 2:18-cv-00009-NBF

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC is an employment law firm with principal offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, serving all counties in Pennsylvania, focusing on employment law, business law, litigation, and civil issues. KM&A clients include employees, small businesses, parties in litigation, and people with a variety of legal issues.

For more information about this case, contact Attorney Sean Ruppert at 412-626-5550 or at sr@lawkm.com.

NOTICE: All information contained in this statement comes from the Complaint which has been filed as a public record with the court. As dedicated civil rights attorneys, we strongly believe in the public value of telling our clients’ stories: violators can be held accountable, and other silent victims can feel empowered to stand up for their legal rights. Although we make every attempt to verify our clients’ claims, note that the defendant is expected to oppose our client’s position, and the court has not ruled one way or the other as of the date of this statement.