Fast food employee claims she was raped by supervisor

More than a year ago, Latoya Cofer, a female cashier at a local McDonald's, claims her male supervisor lured her into a freezer and raped her.

Cofer filed the suit against R.E.E. Inc., doing business as McDonald's, on Dec. 3 in Jefferson County District Court.

According to her suit, on June 5, 2008, Coffer was working as a cashier at the McDonald's on Highway 105 and Eastex Freeway in Beaumont, when her manager, Chris Polanci, asked her to retrieve some frozen cookies from the walk-in freezer.

"Cofer complied with his instruction and shortly after ... Polanci followed her into the walk-in freezer and proceeded to sexually assault Coffer by means of forcible rape," the suit states.

The suit says Cofer confessed the incident to her mother a few days later. However, the suit does not say whether Polanci was brought up on criminal charges.

Cofer is suing under the legal doctrine respondeat superior, which states the employer is responsible for the actions of the employed.

She is seeking damages for her past and future mental anguish, pain, impairment, lost wages and medical expenses, plus attorney's fees.

Cofer is represented by Provost Umphrey attorney Matthew Matheny.

The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd Judicial District.

Case No. E185-432