A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 15-year-old girl claims she was sexually harassed and physically attacked by the former general manager of the Sabraton Dunkin’ Donuts, where she was hired for her first job.
The suit is the third naming Robert Garrison and Doughnut Joe’s LLC. — the parent company of the Sabraton Dunkin’ Donuts — as defendants.
The suit was filed on behalf of A.W., 15. She is being represented by Chirag Desai, who represents two other women who have also filed suits against Garrison and Doughnut Joe’s with similar accusations.
Garrison also faces criminal charges in Monongalia County Magistrate Court for one of the incidents detailed in the civil complaint.
The suit seeks back pay and benefits, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, court costs and interest.
On her first day, Garrison took A.W. into the freezer and suggestively told her there were “no cameras” and that the door locks, according to the suit. His “creepy” behavior “put off” A.W., who started to talk about him with her co-workers.
A.W. learned that Garrison “Facebook stalked” her before she was hired and that he had a pattern of sexually harassing some female employees, including Joanna Roller, who the suit says Garrison sexually assaulted by putting his hands down her pants.
Garrison also told a prospective female employee at her interview that A.W. was his “favorite,” according to the suit.
According to the suit, the sexual harassment intensified in March, when A.W. started working more morning shifts — and more directly with Garrison. A.W. was able to work the shift because school was canceled due to COVID-19.
The suit details a number of incidents of sexual harassment, including Garrison “checking out” A.W., brushing up against her in inappropriate ways, physically pushing her on several occasions and placing his hands on her thighs.
On July 3, Garrison “suddenly and unexpectedly” assaulted A.W., according to the suit. He grabbed her arm, turned her around and pinned her arm on her back, which hurt her shoulder.
According to a criminal complaint, security footage showed Garrison “come up and grab A.W.’s arm while working and twist it behind her. Additionally, it shows Robert Garrison II put A.W. in a choke-hold, which she is eventually able to get out of.”
As in the previous civil suits, Doughnut Joe’s is accused of negligently employing Garrison, even after being made aware of his behavior.
The company’s owner, Joe DeFazio, was sent a letter by Desai concerning allegations made by former employees a month before the July 3 incident, according to the suit. Even after receiving the letter, no meaningful investigation into Garrison’s alleged mistreatment took place.
After the July 3 incident, A.W. and her mother contacted the district manager of Doughnut Joe’s and several days later DeFazio called to ask for more details, the suit said. A.W. told him of “many instances” of sexual harassment by Garrison toward her and her female co-workers and said they “would all have a story about Garrison.”
About a week later, DeFazio called and told A.W. that Garrison was no longer employed, and it was safe to go back to work. A.W.’s mother asked what safety measures were in places to prevent Garrison from coming back and was told because Garrison was no longer employed, DeFazio “assumed” he wouldn’t return, the suit said.
When A.W. came back to work, on one of her first shifts back, Garrison was parked outside of the restaurant, “watching employees make coffee,” according to the suit.
A.W. feared for her safety and resigned.
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