Sexual Harassment Claim by Sanitation Worker Against Atlantic City
A sexual harassment lawsuit was filed by the city's only female truck driver for the sanitation department. In the lawsuit Lisa Fundberg-Carr, a truck dirver for Atlantic City since February 2006, claims she was sexually harassed by her supervisor Melvin Jones, whom she accuses of sending her obscene photos and making lewd comments and gestures. She also claims he pinned her up against the wall and tried to put his tongue down her throat.
In her lawsuit Fundberg-Carr alleges sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and a hostile work environment, and alleges Atlantic City failed to enforce policies relating to sexual harassment complaints in the work place. she reported the incident to Barbara Camper, the city's equal opportunity employment officer, but no action was taken against Jones. Additionally, in May 2006, Fundberg-Carr claims, Brian Williams her co-worker at the time made comments such as how does this feel between your legs while in training with her and that he sent her via her cell phone obscene photos of himself. While her complaint was pending Williams continued to harass her, calling her bitch among other names.
Fundberg-Carr reported the incident but alleges nothing was done in response to her complaint--other than to transfer her to a sweeper truck which was not within her certification. This is a form of retaliation, as retaliation occurs when an employee reports sexual harassment and then has a negative job action as a result of reporting the harassment.
The seven-count suit, filed Dec.15, 2008 names Atlantic City, Jones, Williams, Herman Baskerville, Camper, David Callaway and former assistant city solicitor John Hegarty as defendants. Fundberg-Carr is represented by attorney David Castellani of Northfield.
Fundberg-Carr claims to have suffered extreme emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of past and future wages, physical injury and other damages and is seeking punitive damages, legal fees and the costs associated with filing the suit.
