SHREVEPORT – A retired U.S. Navy Chief is filing a suit against her former employer over alleged sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination.
Karen Randall filed suit on March 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division, against Holmes European Motors Inc. and Holmes Auto Group Inc. over alleged violations of her Civil Rights and violation of the Age Discrimination Act.
Randall, 51, was allegedly hired as a sales consultant by the defendant on July 1, 2008. She alleges that, during the first five years with the company, experienced few problems until her general manager, Anna Thomas, had to allegedly step down and a new general manager, Luke Bratlie, was appointed. Randall asserts that the corporate culture of the dealership changed to become male inclusive and favoritism and, as she was the only female salesperson, she was excluded from many activities such as dinners, trips, meetings, etc. which were supposed to include all sales consultants.
Randall also alleges that she experienced sexual harassment from the beginning to the end of her employment in Oct. 1, 2014. Such alleged incidents include alleged sexual proposition from Paul Bratlie and Greg Miciotto. Randall claims to have reported these incidents on a confidential company survey. She was allegedly terminated after reporting the incidents. Since Randall’s termination, the dealership has allegedly hired younger females to the company, suggesting that age was also a factor in her termination, the suit states.
She is now asking the court to award her for back pay, front pay, loss of earning capacity as well as interest, and any other benefits to which she may have been entitled; compensatory damages; punitive damages; the cost of the suit including attorney fees; and any other rewards deemed just by the court. She is asking for a jury trial and is represented by Penny N. Nowell from Lunn, Irion, Salley, Carlisle & Gardner in Shreveport.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case number 5:16-cv-00404