A Texas dental assistant who claims she was fired because she complained about sexual harassment on the job is suing her former employer.
On May 1, Belva Linscomb filed suit against Thomas John Kennedy, DDS, doing business as Dentures and Dental Services in Beaumont, in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.
According to the complaint, Linscomb began working for the defendant in September 2009. She alleges that throughout her employment she endured sexually harassing comments by a male office manager and another dentist who was employed there.
Linscomb claims she reported the harassing comments to their area supervisor but nothing was done about her complaint. After she complained a second time, she was fired in May 2010, according to the lawsuit.
The defendant is accused of unlawful retaliation against Linscomb because she opposed the sexual harassment.
Linscomb has also filed a discrimination charge against Dr. Kennedy with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In her lawsuit, she is asking for an award of damages for back pay and front pay, including all employment benefits, compensatory damages for emotional pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, exemplary damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.
