Lawsuit Claims Restaurant Manager Pressured Waitress For Sex

GASTONIA, N.C.,None — Gastonia's Pancake House restaurant faces a sexual harassment suit as a result of allegations a manager exposed himself to a waitress and propositioned her for sex.

Restaurant owner Ray Durham says the charges are not true and denies any wrongdoing by the Pancake House.

Savoy Annette Davis was a waitress at the restaurant for five years. She alleges the sexual harassment took place from around October to December 2007.

The lawsuit, filed a week ago on July 27, alleges a manager called her at home, patted her buttocks and tried to hug and kiss the woman at the restaurant, in addition to other unwelcome behavior.

It also contends the manager, her supervisor, was in the restaurant when he exposed himself to Davis.

The manager is not named in the suit.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit against the Pancake House, saying Davis was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment that caused her to quit her job.

It says Davis complained to the manager about his offensive conduct and asked him to stop.

Davis, who does not have a number listed in Gaston County, could not be reached Tuesday. She did not return messages left with EEOC attorney Randall Huggins.

Durham alleges Davis got angry, quit her job at the Pancake House and made up the story about sexual harassment.

"A 60-something year old woman?" he asked. "Can you imagine sexual harassment?"

Huggins would not say how old Davis is or offer any of her personal information.

Durham says he offered to settle with Davis for $2,500 but she refused.

Gastonia attorney Christopher Whelchel represented Durham in talks with Davis and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

He says he and his client expect the case to go to trial.

The suit seeks back pay for Davis along with compensatory and punitive damages, or additional money to compensate Davis and punish Durham.

It asks for the amount to be determined at trial.

Huggins, the senior trial attorney for EEOC, says the agency requires an extensive process before any lawsuit can be filed.

It requires an investigation and an attempt to settle, which Huggins said could account for the three years between the alleged Pancake House harassment and the lawsuit.

Ordinarily, he says, a charge against an employer must be filed within 180 days of any harmful incident.

WSOC