A Houston woman is suing an energy technology services company, alleging discrimination and retaliation after she says she complained of sexual harassment.
Monica Wood filed a lawsuit Nov. 4 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Proserv Corporation, doing business in Houston, alleging sex discrimination and retaliation.
According to the complaint, Wood began working for Proserv in 2012 after the company purchased her division at Weatherford International. The suit says Kevin Butler, who was hired by Proserv in January 2014 to oversee the project managers, made numerous inappropriate comments and actions toward Wood and other female employees.
The suit alleges these comments and actions were offensive, harassing and derogatory in nature but the company's human resources department failed to take any action against Butler.
Wood reported four incidents to general manager Mark Galagaza and lodged an internal complaint to Jodi Collier in human resources, the lawsuit states. The suit alleges Butler then stated to another employee that he would make the work environment so difficult to Wood that she would "either leave or he would see to it that she was terminated."
During the company's investigation of allegations against Butler, Wood was told she was being written up for allegedly breaking confidentiality during the investigation, the suit states. Her hours also were investigated and she was put on an unwarranted performance improvement plan, according to the suit.
On Oct. 22, 2014, Wood was briefed on the second week of her performance improvement plan, on which she had previously been given an "exceptional" rating. She was required to be on the plan for four weeks, but she was terminated Oct. 23, 2014, according to the suit.
The suit alleges these actions constitute retaliation of Proserv because the plaintiff complained of sexual harassment.
Wood seeks actual and liquidated damages, attorney fees and costs of the suit. She is represented by attorney Keenya R. Harrold of Kennard Blankenship Robinson in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:15-cv-03255.