GRETNA – A gas station is being sued by a former employee who claims she was sexually harassed and abused while at work.
Brenda Melissa Andrade Zelaya filed suit against an unknown co-worker, Birdies No. 1 LLC, Birdies Food and Fuel and their insurer in the 24th Judicial District Court on Dec. 30, 2014.
The plaintiff asserts that she received serious mental and physical injuries due to the assault including injury to her skeletal, musculature and nervous systems. Zelaya claims that the same man had verbally abused on numerous occasions in front of others and calling her a prostitute in Arabic. Zelaya alleges she notified her supervisors of the behavior exhibited by her co-worker, but they failed to do anything about it.
The defendant is accused of failing to train employees, failing to properly supervise employees, failing to direct employees, failing to take steps to correct employee behavior, failing to provide proper warning and failing to take steps to avoid the incident.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medial treatment, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, aggravation, inconvenience, costs, exposes and loss of wages.
Zelaya is represented by Cristian P. Silva of Harvey-based Cristian P. Silva Law Office LLC.
The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Nancy A. Miller.
Case no. 745-446.