Female truck driver files gender discrimination lawsuit against trucking company

A female truck driver has filed a lawsuit against a trucking company for intentionally discriminating against her by firing her after she complained about her supervisor showing her a pornographic video. 

Claiming violations of her civil rights, Kathleen Robledo filed suit against Central Refrigerated Service Inc. on Oct. 24 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.

Robledo began working for the defendant in October 2011 and was sent for semi-truck driver’s training in Utah.  She was en route from Utah to Texas with her supervisor when an incident occurred.

According to the lawsuit, her male supervisor allegedly showed Robledo a pornographic video on his computer while the truck was stopped at a truck stop in Texas. Robledo alerted the company headquarters in Utah of the events and she was abandoned at the truck stop. Central Refrigerated Service sent a female truck driver to pick up Robledo and bring her to its Utah office and back to Texas.

When they arrived back in Beaumont, Robledo was notified she was terminated.

The defendant is accused of intentionally discriminating against Robledo in violation of her civil rights by creating a sexual hostile work environment and ultimately terminating Robledo because she complained of the hostile work environment.

The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for back pay, front pay, including all employment benefits, compensatory damages including emotional pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, exemplary damages, attorney’s fees and court costs.

Robledo is represented by Kenneth W. Lewis and Stephen L. Townsend of Bush Lewis in Beaumont.

U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.

Case No. 1:12-cv-00519