KM&A Files Lawsuit Against Family Dollar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2014

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC has filed a complaint against Family Dollar on behalf of Travis Washington in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

The complaint alleges that James Showman, Defendant’s employee and Plaintiff’s supervisor, made sexually explicit and extremely inappropriate comments to Plaintiff during his employment. The complaint alleges that the conduct that occurred included, standing in front of Plaintiff and asking him to perform oral sex, attempting to stick things in the Plaintiff’s rectum, standing behind Plaintiff as if engaging in anal intercourse, Mr. Showman telling Plaintiff that he was going to do sexual things to Plaintiff, buying the Plaintiff things and then saying that the Plaintiff owed him sex or had to find someone that would, coercing the Plaintiff into coming to his personal residence for different reasons, saying how he is going to stick or put grease in the Plaintiff’s rectum, and making sexual comments and jokes about the Plaintiff to co-workers. The complaint also alleges that Mr. Showman physically assaulted Plaintiff several times during his employment including in May 2013 when Mr. Showman slapped the Plaintiff in the face with an open hand and in June 2013 when Mr. Showman ground his penis into the Plaintiff’s buttocks while he was bent over stocking shelves. The complaint alleges that the Plaintiff complained about Mr. Showman’s behavior to Rose Casel and Petrice Taylor, store supervisors, and the “Integrity Hotline.” The complaint alleges that a new manager was assigned to the store in February 2014 who immediately cut the Plaintiff’s hours from 40 hours a week to 15 hours a week. The complaint further alleges that on March 10, 2014, the Manager called Plaintiff to tell him he did not need to show up to work and that the Manager would call Plaintiff when he needed the Plaintiff to work, which the Plaintiff never received a call and believes he has been terminated.

The complaint alleges that the defendant has violated the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against Plaintiff because of his sex and by retaliating against Plaintiff.

Lead attorney on this case for the Plaintiff is Christi Wallace. Full text of the complaint, as filed with the court, is available here: Complaint – Washington vs Family Dollar. This case is docketed as GD-14-007338.

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC is a law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh focusing on business law, employment law, and litigation. The firm’s clients include small businesses, employers, employees, and parties in civil litigation. The firm has won significant judgments and settlements from regional and national defendants.

Additional information about this lawsuit can be obtained by contacting us at press@lawkm.com or (412) 626-5626.