A Raymondville woman claims in a two-count lawsuit that she rebuffed sexual advances by the Texas County presiding commissioner, which forced her to leave her county job in 2006.
Carol Denise Wilson alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday that the county’s top administrative officer, Don Shelhammer, subjected her to offensive sexual remarks and conduct in May and June of 2006.
Wilson, claiming sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act, asks for actual and punitive damages “exceeding $25,000” against Shelhammer and Texas County government. Count II alleges battery.
Wilson was a dispatcher for the Wri-Tex 911 system from March 2001 to June 2006. She reported to the 911 director and Shelhammer, according to the lawsuit.
Wilson filed a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in July 2006 and that body issued a notice of right to sue, a determination of probable cause, earlier this month.
The nine-page document alleges Shelhammer made advances to her and describes incidents in May and June 2006 that Wilson claims resulted in unwanted physical contact.
Wilson claims in the lawsuit that when she complained about sexual harassment and a hostile work environment in 2002, it resulted in reduced employment hours. In 2003 and in 2005, she received written disciplinary action that she says was unfounded and beginning in June 2006 she alleges she was told by Shelhammer that he would interfere with her prospective employment if she did not submit to his advances. Wilson claims a work environment that was intolerable, and the “defendants constructively discharged plaintiff on or about June 18, 2006.”
The St. Louis firm of Dobson, Goldberg, Moreland and Berns, which specializes in employment discrimination cases, represents Wilson.
Shelhammer is serving his second, four-year term as presiding commissioner. In a written statement, Shelhammer denied any claims when the complaint was filed with the human rights commission.
Texas County Circuit Court case.