Worker claims she was fired after reporting sexual harassment

An oil refinery worker has filed suit against her employer, claiming she was terminated for reporting sexual harassment.

Melissa Lynch filed suit against Turner Industries Group and Fluor Daniels April 6 in St. Charles Parish District Court. The defendants removed the case to federal court in New Orleans in June.

Lynch was hired in September 2008 by Turner Industries to work as a boilermaker at the Marathon Oil Refinery in Garyville. Her immediate supervisor was employed by Fluor Daniels Corp.

Lynch says that immediately after she was hired, her male supervisor started sexually harrassing her by calling her a "good looking woman" and making inappropriate comments about her body. Lynch says the harassment intensified when the supervisor began standing uncomfortably close to her.

Lynch says she feared for her safety and felt it necessary to report the harassment to her employer. According to the lawsuit, 30 minutes after a Turner Industries superintendent received the harassment complaint, Lynch was fired.

Lynch accuses the defendants of violating her civil rights. She is seeking damages for embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of life's enjoyment, expenses and attorneys' fees, compensatory damages, loss of consortium, punitive damages and interest.

Lynch is represented by Joseph Pousson and Michael Williamson of Lake Charles.

U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10cv01789