A Jefferson Parish woman is suing her former employer, alleging sexual harassment in the the workplace.
Plaintiff Jessica Berger filed a lawsuit Sept. 3 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Rollins Inc. and Orkin Inc., successors to Orkin Extermination Company, doing business as Orkin Pest Control, alleging sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment.
According to the complaint, Berger was consistently harassed in numerous ways by her branch manager, H. Russell Fielder. Upon reporting the incident to human resources after more than three months of harassment, the suit says, the company failed to take action and the situation became worse.
Finally, on August 15, 2014, Berger was terminated from her position with the company and she suffered a miscarriage not long after, the complaint states.
The plaintiff alleges to have suffered severe mental and emotional damage as a result of the harassment, including sleep trouble, fear for her life and anxiety.
Berger seeks an unspecified damages, litigation costs and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court. She is represented by attorney Karl Bernard of G. Karl Bernard & Associates in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-04102-JCZ-KWR.