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Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Kaiser Let Grabby Boss Continue, Worker Says

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A San Diego woman told at least three Kaiser managers about her grabby boss, to no avail, she claims in a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Adriana Arias sued Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and supervisor Emmanuel Iheke in San Diego County Superior Court, Central Division.

According to the complaint, Iheke, "engaged in a campaign of sexual harassment and battery against plaintiff on an ongoing and continuing basis. Examples of Iheke's sexual harassment of plaintiff include, but are not limited to, the following: grabbing plaintiff's breasts on several occasions; grabbing plaintiff's buttocks on several occasions; spanking plaintiff's buttocks; rubbing plaintiff's vagina; grabbing plaintiff's vagina; rubbing plaintiff's legs; rubbing plaintiff's buttocks; rubbing plaintiff's breasts; frequently asking plaintiff to have sex with him; telling plaintiff that he had already had sex with other co-workers; frequently walking up to plaintiff while she was pushing her janitorial cart and touching her buttocks, breasts, and /or [waist]; and continually leering at plaintiff, especially at plaintiff's breasts and buttocks."

"Plaintiff never welcomed any of Iheke's sexually harassing conduct," the complaint continues.

Arias says she reported Iheke's harassment three times to three managers over a five-year period, but "defendants never took any action in response to plaintiff's complaints."

The fourth time she complained, "defendants finally conducted an investigation into plaintiff's claims against Iheke. Upon information and belief, Iheke was not disciplined in any way as a result of plaintiff's claim of sexual harassment. Instead, Iheke was allowed to keep working at defendant's Zion Ave. facility, and continues to do so to this day, while Plaintiff was relegated to work at another facility," Arias says.

Now Kaiser plans to return Arias to the Zion Avenue facility, "despite Iheke's conduct and defendants' alleged investigation," according to the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks general, special and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs, interest and a jury trial. She is represented by London D. Meservy and Matthew S. Dente, both of San Diego.

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