Supervisor's alleged advances results in lawsuit

A catering employee has filed a lawsuit against his former employer after losing his job due to complaining about his supervisor's continued sexual harassment and sexual advances.

Claiming violations of his civil rights, Courtland Tatum filed suit against Art Catering Inc. and Ed Raymond Jr. on May 11 in federal court in New Orleans.

According to the lawsuit, Tatum worked as a galley hand/prep cook for Art Catering offshore out of Houma. Starting around January 2007, Tatum states the supervisor in charge, Ed Raymond Jr., made numerous and repeated sexual advances toward Tatum. Tatum states that the conduct created a workplace permeated with sexual discrimination, ridicule and insult, which was severe enough to alter employment conditions and create an abusive environment.

In May 2007, he complained about sexual harassment to the company's training coordinator and the same day, he was transferred to a less profitable rig, the suit claims. Tatum states that after his complaint, Art Catering refused to contact him, effectively refusing to give him any work and terminating him.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for mental stress, mental injury, loss of earning capacity, emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, compensatory damages, pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconveniences, loss of enjoyment of life, punitive damages, front and back pay, fringe benefits, attorney's fees, interest and court costs.

Tatum is represented by Joseph J. Bailey of Provosty, Sadler deLaunay, Fiorenza & Sobel in Alexandria. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-01118