Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Woman Says Boss Slapped Her|in the Face With His Penis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CN) - A public employee "slapped (a woman's) face with his bare penis and attempted to force her to perform fellatio in the presence of elementary schoolchildren who were able to witness the event," the woman claims in court.

Two women sued Steven Bradford, Greater K.C. Linc dba Local Investment Commission, Kansas City 33 School District, and elementary school principal Philomina Harshaw, in separate complaints in Jackson County Court.

Taiasha Price and Rubie Ellis both claim that Bradford sexually assaulted them, or tried to, and both say they were fired after complaining of it.

Defendant LINC is a welfare-to-work program operated by LINC and the school district at M.L. King K-8 school, the complaints state.

Both women say they worked under the direct supervision of Bradford, who worked under the direct supervision of Harshaw, the principal of M.L. King school.

Price claims that Bradford "attempted to sexually assault Ms. Price while pinning her against a car, gave Ms. Price money in exchange for forced kisses and requested sexual favors, told Ms. Price that he wanted her 'all to himself,' propositioned Taiasha Price for sexual favors, made degrading, rude and crude remarks of a sexual nature to Taiasha Price, repeatedly assaulted Taiasha Price by grabbing, spinning, lifting and hugging her, when such conduct was unwelcome, and otherwise sexually harassed Ms. Price."

She says she complained about Bradford to defendants LINC, the school district and Harshaw from Aug. 21 to Oct. 5, 2011, and got "no response."

Then on Oct. 7, 2011, the complaint states: "Mr. Bradford forced Ms. Price's head into his naked crotch, slapped her face with his bare penis and attempted to force her to perform fellatio, in the presence of elementary schoolchildren who were able to witness the event, as well as Ms. Rubie Ellis, until he was interrupted by a bystander."

Price says she and Ellis complained about that to LINC and to Bradshaw, and that again, "No action was taken."

Ellis claims Bradford assaulted her too.

"On October 5, 2011, while in M.L. King K-8, while Rubie Ellis was asking Steven Bradford to forward her W-2 paperwork for processing, Mr. Bradford declared his intent to sexually assault and batter Rubie Ellis, by hitting her from behind in the back with great force and causing her face to be slammed into a door frame and propelling her outside and on too the ground," the complaint states. "Mr. Bradford then picked up Ms. Ellis and demanded that he kiss her."

Ellis says she complained too, and no action was taken.

Price says she was fired on Nov. 16, 2011 after she refused to continue to work with Bradford and endure repeated sexual assaults.

Ellis says she was constructively discharged on Oct. 11, 2011 as a result of Bradford's conduct.

They seek damages for human rights violations, premises liability, negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention, and assault and battery.

They are represented by Edward A. Stump.

Follow @@joeharris_stl
Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...