NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana woman is suing her former employer, one of the nation’s leading pipe support makers, claiming she was sexually harassed and later terminated for reporting the harassment.
Kiariel Frazer, a Jefferson Parish resident, filed her lawsuit July 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The named defendant is Carpenter & Paterson Inc. The company, founded in Boston in 1908, operates in nine North American locations, including one in Louisiana. It offers plumbing specialties like its Witch-brand pipe hanger.
Frazer, in her five-page filing, said she was hired in October 2022. Her title was Human Resources Coordinator, and she reported to the company’s HR director.
She alleges Carpenter violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and Louisiana’s Anti-Discrimination Law.
By bringing her lawsuit, Frazer hopes to “effectuate appropriate injunctive relief to others who may have been affected by Defendants’ discriminatory and retaliatory practices and to prevent further occurrence of such practices.”
She claims that during her employment, Carpenter President and CEO Mike Spellman made “repeated unwelcomed advances” towards her, including suggestive comments, comments about her appearance, and “invaded her personal space.”
Frazer alleges she reported Spellman’s advances to the company’s HR director, but no action was taken to stop the harassment.
“In response to Plaintiff’s complaint or harassment, Defendant’s HR Director conducted a sham reorganization of HR duties as a pretext to terminate Plaintiff’s employment,” the complaint states, alleging her termination was done in retaliation.
In May, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued Frazer a right to sue letter.
She seeks a permanent injunction enjoining Carpenter and its employees from engaging in such retaliation against employees who complain about sexual discrimination and remove them from their “no-rehire” status.
She also asks the federal court to order the company to institute and carry out policies and procedures that “safeguard” all employees – regardless of sex or any sex-based harassment and retaliation. This would include training of personnel concerning compliance, the filing states.
Frazer also requests Carpenter compensate her for past and future nonpecuniary losses; pay punitive damages; and pay for all attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
The Law Office of Alan Kansas, based in Gretna, is representing Frazer.
