Harris Co. woman claims retaliation, termination for reporting sexual harassment, suit says

HOUSTON - Harris County resident Melba K. Herrera has filed suit against Crown Castle USA Inc. and Crown Castle International Corp. in response to her alleged dismissal for complaining about gender discrimination and sexual harassment, recent court documents say. 

A lawsuit filed Dec. 7 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas shows the defendants subjected Herrera to mistreatment and retaliation prior to firing her from her permanent employee position.

Herrera began working for the defendants in May 2007.

The suit explains that some three years after she was hired, she assumed the responsibilities of a land acquisition manager while maintaining her duties associated with being a rooftop acquisition manager.

Despite the nature of her work, the plaintiff was not properly or equally compensated as her male counterparts to which she tried to address with the human resources department in November 2010 and June 2011 to no avail, according to the original petition.

Herrera claims a supervisor reportedly contacted her numerous times through calls and texts in an effort to get her to sleep with him, adding he even once showed up at her front door "in a fit."

The plaintiff claims she reported the misconduct and the supervisor was sacked, however, his successor retaliated against her, the suit says.

Herrera was fired May 7 on grounds she performed poorly, but the plaintiff believes it was in response to her sexual harassment complaints in the past.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Ashok Bail of Houston is representing Herrera.

Case No. 4:12-CV-3570