HOUSTON – A San Jose technology company has been implicated in a Katy man’s sexual harassment lawsuit.
Cisco Systems was sued in federal court on Aug. 30. The plaintiff, Kevin Michael Shaw, recalls experiencing a hostile work environment employed as a managing architect at the defendant’s Houston office because of an incident two years ago during a business trip in Australia.
According to Shaw, he was forced to show his genitals since he missed hitting a tee during a golf game by Cisco Practice Director Randal Kenworthy.
Kenworthy continuously ridiculed the plaintiff even after the men returned to the U.S. since the former “clearly demonstrated a sustained campaign of disparagement and denigration amongst senior leadership within Shaw’s direct command-chain,” the suit says.
Cisco purportedly failed to take any action to remedy the harassment. Court papers add that Shaw’s physical and mental health suffered, and some three months after the Australia trip, the company terminated him for supposedly violating its Code of Business Conduct.
The suit asserts that Shaw’s termination was a form of pushback for his complaints.
“The timing of Mr. Shaw’s termination, which was only a few weeks after he complained about the sexual harassment and hostile work environment, shows pretext for the retaliation taken against Mr. Shaw,” the complaint says.
Shaw additionally claims that Cisco promised to reimburse him “for expenses he incurred while engaged in (its) business.”
A jury trial is requested.
Alfonso Kennard, Jr. of the law firm Kennard Miller Hernandez P.C. in Houston is representing the plaintiff.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-3033