Harris Co. woman fired for complaining about sexual harassment, suit says

HOUSTON - A Harris County woman says she was terminated from Scrap Metal Services LLC for complaining about sexual harassment, recent court documents say.

Falon Blackshear filed suit against her former employer, doing business as SMS Scrap Metal Services, on Feb. 1 in Galveston County District Court. The Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas received the case on Feb. 27.

Scrap Metal Services hired Blackshear as office manager at its new facility in Baytown in March 2012.

According to the suit, the plaintiff was subjected to "unwelcome, severe and pervasive conduct and comments of a sexual nature" from the defendant's operations manager.

Blackshear states the manager, who is not a defendant in the case, took advantage of his position in an effort to start a sexual relationship with her and which she refused.

She adds the manager traveled to Houston from Illinois several times supposedly to train her, but "never did so."

The original petition further shows the manager apparently lied to Blackshear about his marital status and fired her after she complained about his alleged misconduct.

Even after her termination, the manager continued to sexually harass her, even having a colleague who was visiting Houston call her to get her to "show him the town," the suit says.

Consequently, Blackshear seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Attorney Syd Phillips of Houston is representing the plaintiff.

Case No. 4:13-CV-524