HOUSTON – A former executive secretary with Markman Management Co. alleges that she was sexually harassed and assaulted during her course of employment.
In a 9-page lawsuit filed against MMC on Sept. 12 in the Harris County 190th District Court, Veronica Fuentes asserts that the defendant’s president and owner, Jack M. Markman, subjected her to “relentless unwelcome and highly inappropriate conduct” immediately after her hiring in late 2017.
“Markman’s unwanted and unprovoked behavior was so severe and pervasive that Fuentes not only demanded that he stop but she reached out and complained to anyone at MMC that would listen,” the complaint explains.
The respondent purportedly failed to investigate Fuentes’s complaints and is believed to have “turned a blind eye” to Markman’s alleged actions. Fuentes says an internal anti-sexual harassment/assault memo failed to deter Markman.
“It is no secret that Markman has a long pattern and practice of sexually assaulting female employees,” the suit says.
Fuentes further states that she had no choice but to resign from MMC. Despite her abrupt resignation, the plaintiff was allegedly contacted by Markman about returning to work.
Consequently, she seeks no more than $2 million in damages and a jury trial.
Melissa Moore and Curt Hesse of the law firm Moore & Associates in Houston are representing Fuentes.
Harris County 190th District Court Case No. 2018-62810