Lawsuit accuses Ky. airport of sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A civil lawsuit has been filed against the Georgetown-Scott County Airport

The suit was filed by a former employee, accusing the company of sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination.

The woman says she filed a complaint with the board but was instead retaliated against.

[READ THE FULL LAWSUIT BELOW]

Early last year, Haley Scott was hired by the Georgetown Scott County Airport as a line agent.

According to the lawsuit, 11 months in, she says she endured constant sexual harassment by the airport’s operations manager, Scott Hampton.

When I first started at the Georgetown Scott County Airport, I knew it was to be expected that I would face some difficulties being the only young female working with a bunch of older men.

Once things started to get worse and actually made me uncomfortable, is when I seriously stood up for myself. There were a couple instances where touching was involved.

Late last year, Miss Scott claims she filed this written report to the board about the harassment.

I am writing this because I am reaching my breaking point. Every day I’m being singled out and disrespected.

Brad Zoppoth is representing the plaintiff. He believes the paper trail is key.

“Once that is made, that becomes, we believe, part of her best evidence in the case,” Zoppot said. “So often, these cases do turn into ‘he said, she said.’”

She says despite being told she would no longer have to report to the operations manager, months later, the decision was reversed.

Her attorney tells us that when she notified her employer of her pregnancy earlier this year, they refused to provide reasonable accommodations.

“But such duties as lifting heavy baggage or being out on the tarmac where she would be ingesting jet fuel fumes. Those can cause significant health risks to a pregnant person,” said Zoppoth.

The lawsuit alleges that the working conditions at the airport were so difficult, unpleasant and grotesque, that a reasonable person in her position, would have felt there was no other choice, but to resign.

Court documents show on April 3, she was “constructively discharged.”

We sent an e-mail to the attorney representing the airport in this matter. The firm says they do not comment on pending litigation.