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

Woman Says Boss Was Way Too Demanding

LEXINGTON, Ky. (CN) - An obsessed boss barraged a Churchill Downs employee with sexual advances, "thousands of text messages and phone calls," stalked her at her home, and finally got her fired by blocking her driveway with a car, making it impossible for her to go to work, a woman claims in court.

Rachell Hall sued Churchill Downs in Fayette Circuit Court.

She claims her boss, nonparty Dana Smith, a woman, harassed her unrelentingly, and when she "failed to reciprocate Ms. Smith's sexual advances, plaintiff was terminated."

"Over the course of her employment with defendant, plaintiff received thousands of text messages and phone calls from Ms. Smith," the complaint states.

Hall worked for Churchill Downs for just under 17 months. She claims that Smith "constantly" sat on her desk at work, "making sexual advances."

The complaint continues: "On August 17, 2013, Ms. Smith came to plaintiff's house, refused to leave, assaulted plaintiff's friend, forcibly entered the residence and assaulted plaintiff and her friends. Ms. Smith was physically removed from the house after destroying personal items.

"In August of 2013, Ms. Smith left mementos on plaintiff's property as a threat for plaintiff's rejection of Ms. Smith's sexual advances.

"On September 1, 2013, Ms. Smith sent suicidal threats to plaintiff.

"On September 2, 2013, Ms. Smith stole plaintiff's laptop bag from her desk on defendant's premises. The laptop bag contained a laptop computer, cash, and a hard drive containing personal data. Ms. Smith stole information from plaintiff's property and has been continuously contacting plaintiff and plaintiff's associates, harassing them and soliciting sex and drugs. Plaintiff filed a police report on September 2, 2013, relating to the stolen property and data. Ms. Smith admitted to stealing the property."

Smith also has disseminated "private information and data she stole from plaintiff," Hall says.

She adds: "On September 3, 2013, Ms. Smith traveled to plaintiff's house, where Ms. Smith blocked plaintiff s car in the driveway, not allowing her to leave. Despite continued requests to leave, Ms. Smith refused to move her vehicle. Plaintiff failed to make it to work on time and because of Ms. Smith's actions and the actions of the defendant, plaintiff was terminated."

Hall seeks wages due, severance pay, and punitive damages for sexual harassment, hostile workplace, employment law violations, intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference and conversion.

She is represented by Joseph Buckles.

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