Lawsuit accuses Kentucky airport of sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A civil lawsuit has been filed against Georgetown-Scott County Airport

The lawsuit was filed by a former employee who accused the company of sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy.

The woman said she filed a complaint with the agency but was met with retaliation.

(READ THE FULL COMPLAINT BELOW)

Early last year, Haley Scott was hired as a line agent at Georgetown Scott County Airport.

According to the lawsuit, she was continually sexually harassed for 11 months by the airport’s operations manager, Scott Hampton.

When I started at Georgetown Scott County Airport, I knew I would face some difficulties as the only young woman working with a group of older men.

When things got worse and I became really uncomfortable, I started to fight back seriously. There were a few situations where touching occurred.

Late last year, Ms. Scott says she submitted this written report of harassment to the Board.

I am writing this because I am at the end of my rope. Every day I am excluded and treated with disrespect.

Brad Zoppoth represents the plaintiff. He believes the paper trail is the key.

“Once that happens, we think it becomes some of their best evidence in the case,” Zoppot said. “So often these cases become ‘he said, she said.'”

She says the decision to tell her she no longer had to report to the operations manager was reversed months later.

Her lawyer tells us that her employer refused to provide her with reasonable accommodations when she disclosed her pregnancy earlier this year.

“But tasks such as carrying heavy luggage or being on the tarmac, where she would inhale kerosene fumes, can pose significant health risks to a pregnant person,” said Zoppoth.

The lawsuit alleges that working conditions at the airport were so difficult, unpleasant and grotesque that a reasonable person in her position would have felt she had no choice but to quit.

According to court documents, she was “constructively discharged” on April 3.

We have emailed the lawyer representing the airport in this matter. The firm says it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

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