BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (CN) - A supervisor wrapped a man's van in Saran wrap and taped gay porn to it after he reported the boss for sexual harassment, the man claims in court.
Patrick Martinez sued Recology Inc. and Mike Alvarez in Kern County Superior Court on Friday.
Martinez, a general laborer, claims that in April this year, Alvarez "began engaging in a continuous, severe, and pervasive campaign of sexual harassment toward" him.
Among other things, Martinez says, Alvarez hugged him from behind, called him a "fag" and sent him a text message that said "I'll be your secret ... kisses."
When Martinez told Alvarez to stop harassing him, "Alvarez, acting in concert with others, wrapped plaintiff's van with plastic Saran wrap and taped homoerotic pictures of men engaging in sexual acts together to the vehicle," the complaint states.
Martinez says he complained to a manger, who refused to investigate or discipline Alvarez, then fired Martinez in September.
Martinez seeks punitive damages for sexual harassment, battery, assault, and wrongful termination. He also wants up to a $10,000 penalty for unlawfully retaliating against him for reporting sexual harassment.
He is represented by Eric Palmer with the Employment Lawyers Group of Sherman Oaks. Requests for comment were not immediately returned.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Recology is an employee-owned resource recovery company that specializes in collecting solid waste and reprocessing it into useful items and materials rather than dumping it in a landfill, according to its website, checked Monday morning.
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