Business owner claims woman repeatedly harassed him following her termination

The former employer of a woman claims the woman has continually harassed him after her termination from his company, causing him to call the police on her once after she verbally attacked him in a men’s restroom. 

Roosevelt Petry Jr. filed a lawsuit July 16 in Jefferson County District Court against Dawana K. Wise.

In his complaint, Petry alleges Wise had worked for his company, GP Industrial Contractors, but was fired. Shortly after her termination, Wise began to engage in a series of harassing, threatening and embarrassing actions, according to the complaint.

Following her termination, Wise has continually called Petry on his cell and business phones and has repeatedly sent him emails and text messages that usually include pornographic and lewd material, the suit states. Petry has attempted to avoid the phone calls and messages, but says their constant nature make it difficult to do so.

“Defendant developed a system whereby she would call through a system which would allow the phone call to appear as though it came from a separate number thereby inducing plaintiff to accept the phone call only to learn it was the defendant, Dawana K. Wise, using some other phone number; and on occasion defendant has used the number of close friends of plaintiff to disguise the harassing phone call made by defendant, as well as text messages,” the complaint says.

In fact, during the past year, Wise has sent Petry more than 100 calls, texts and e-mail messages, he claims.

Wise has engaged in other actions that have concerned Petry, according to the complaint.

For instance, she has followed him in her vehicle, then confronted him if he happened to emerge in a business location, the suit states.

She has also utilized an unauthorized access code to enter his business and to disrupt his work by cursing, screaming and threatening him, the complaint says. He claims he eventually he had to escort her out of the building, but she still would not leave the premises.

“As plaintiff entered his vehicle and attempted to leave the scene to avoid further embarrassment and verbal abuse by defendant, defendant stood directly behind plaintiff’s vehicle refusing to allow him to leave the premises until employees of plaintiff persuaded plaintiff to move from behind his vehicle so that plaintiff could leave,” the suit states.

On another occasion, Petry was at a public building, Club Tiffany, in Port Arthur when he went to the men’s restroom. While Petry was in the bathroom, Wise entered the facility and began cursing and berating him to the extent that the police had to be called, according to the complaint.

Wise has also entered Petry’s home and destroyed most of the property he was renting at the time, causing him to reimburse the landlord, the suit states.

Although Petry has repeatedly attempted to ask Wise to cease her conduct, she has failed to do so, the complaint says. Therefore, Petry says he has no remedy other than to file his lawsuit against her.

In his complaint, Petry seeks an injunction ordering Wise to cease communication with him and to stop following him, coming to his residence or business, slandering him or harassing him in any manner. He also seeks costs, attorney’s fees and other relief the court deems just.

Carl A. Parker of The Parker Law Firm in Port Arthur will be representing him.

Judge Bob Wortham, 58^th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. A194-537