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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Lawsuit says security officer's complaints about sexual harassment led to termination

Cole

HOUSTON - A Harris County woman alleges she was wrongfully terminated from her job with ABM Security Services Inc. and has filed a lawsuit.

Recent court documents filed July 16 in Houston federal court say Yelena Riebel complained about sexual harassment at the hands of a co-worker to her superiors only to be dismissed.

Riebel was hired in May 2005 and assigned to work as a security guard at the Marathon Oil Tower in Houston.

She asserts a colleague by the name of Milton Williams made her the victim of unwelcome sexual advances and sexual harassment beginning in November 2008.

The suit alleges the plaintiff reported the harassment to management yet no corrective action was taken.

Williams, who is not a defendant in the suit, had his misconduct addressed in March 2009, and a result, Riebel was asked to document the harassment in a written report.

According to the original petition, Williams ceased the abuse for a period of several weeks before resuming it.

Riebel sought protection, however upon presenting her findings to the respondent's human resources supervisor in a meeting in July 2009, she was accused of "talking dirty stuff" about her co-workers and subjected to disciplinary action.

ABM then fired the plaintiff.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Tobias A. Cole with Midani, Hinkle & Cole LLP in Houston is representing Riebel.

Case No. 4:12-cv-2141

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