A former employee at Ruby & Ketchy’s is suing the Cheat Lake area restaurant and its president for sexual harassment.
The suit claims the president of Ruby & Ketchy’s Inc., Leslie Nicholson, repeatedly made sexual comments and inappropriately touched Susan Corbin while she worked at the eatery.
An employee at the restaurant said Nicholson does not work there but is a part-owner. The Dominion Post was unable to reach Nicholson.
Corbin was hired as a server in April 2017 and the harassment from Nicholson started “soon thereafter,” according to the suit.
In December 2018, Nicholson gave Corbin a holiday card and wrote, “if you ever get rid of your old man let me know,” the suit states.
In January 2019, the sexual harassment became more aggressive. According to the suit, Nicholson smacked Corbin’s behind while she was bending over to pick up a bowl. Corbin told him that wasn’t OK and a cook who saw it told him it was sexual harassment.
“In response, Nicholson giggled and walked out of the kitchen,” the suit states.
The suit also accuses Nicholson of grabbing Corbin’s breasts, grabbing her face and kissing her near the lips, and whispering “hello beautiful” while hugging her.
The final incident was April 19, 2019, when Corbin thought she heard Nicholson say “hey” while she she waited on a customer seated with him. She returned to the table and asked if anything else was needed. Nicholson responded, “I always need you.”
Cobin finished her shift that evening and quit after “Nicholson’s repeated unwanted sexual advances and unwanted touching.”
For the sexual harassment, battery, and gender discrimination Corbin experienced, the suit seeks lost wages, punitive damages, damages for embarrassment, humiliation, annoyance, inconvenience, loss of dignity and emotional distress.
It also seeks the standard attorney’s fees and pre- and post-judgment interest.
The suit was filed Monday in Monongalia County Circuit Court by attorney Mark Atkinson on Corbin’s behalf.
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