Sexual Harassment Case Against WTOP/Washington Moved To Federal Court

Suit

HUBBARD RADIO has gotten a sexual harassment complaint against it from a former News WTOP/WASHINGTON employee moved from DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Superior Court to U.S. District Court for D.C.

The case was brought by traffic reporter JOY PIVEC in D.C. court on DECEMBER 13th, alleging violations of the D.C. Human Rights Act and wrongful retention, training, and supervision of an employee.  HUBBARD moved to take the case to federal court, which agreed that it had shown diverse citizenship, a claim in excess of $75,000 (PIVEC is asking for $3 million), and that HUBBARD and its subsidiaries are not D.C. citizens.

PIVEC claims in her suit that she was subject to sexual harassment by a co-worker, reporter ROB WOODFORK; she alleges "unwelcome touching, demeaning sexist comments, veiled threats to her employment if she did not acquiesce to his demands, and graphic and vulgar language and references to WOODFORK's anatomical features."  The complaint specifically claims that on the first day of training while driving in the WTOP Jeep, WOODFORK discussed his sexual preference for older white women and propositioned her, and added that "I hope you know whatever is said in this Jeep stays in this Jeep.  That's how WTOP is run."  PIVEC cites other employees' comments saying that WOODFORK's history and actions made them uncomfortable as well; She claims she reported the harassment to Human Resources but nothing was done while she was still employed there, and WOODFORK remains employed by the company.

UPDATE: The case was dismissed with prejudice by PIVEC and HUBBARD in a joint motion on JUNE 13, 2019 following a mediation.

« see more Net News