Stanford Oakview Apartments manager ‘feared for her life,’ federal lawsuit says

STANFORD, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against GEM Management, LLC on July 26, alleging the company failed to remedy sexual harassment claims, eventually forcing a manager to resign.

GEM Management is an affordable housing property management company with properties across the nation , according to its website. An EEOC news release alleges that GEM Management knew its Oakview Apartment manager had reported sexual harassment by another employee, failed to address it, and directed the manager to continue working with the alleged harasser.

The civil rights lawsuit comes after the EEOC first attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement through the agency, according to a news release . Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination because of sex, including sexual harassment.

“Workplace harassment that alters an employee’s working conditions because of the individual’s sex violates federal law,” said Kenneth L. Bird, the EEOC’s regional attorney in Indianapolis. “The EEOC is committed to holding employers accountable for allowing harassment to continue.”

FOX 56 has obtained a copy of the lawsuit and court documents alleging that GEM Management “engaged in unlawful employment practices” at its Stanford property since at least Oct. 7, 2022.

In October, a maintenance technician allegedly began subjecting the victim to “unwelcome sexual conduct, advances, and requests.” Court documents state that the victim requested her shift changed so she no longer had to interact with the alleged harasser. Although the request was granted, the lawsuit claims it only lasted for two weeks and the victim was reportedly forced to continue directly working with the harasser.

At this point, court documents claim that the harassment continued to escalate.

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“[Omitted] harasser also made [omitted] feel physically intimidated and threatened by telling her that he kept a gun in his truck and that he ‘watched her,’ coupled with repeatedly coming to [omitted’s] office where she worked alone to linger close to her putting her in fear of her personal safety,” the lawsuit stated.

In January 2023, the victim reportedly submitted a written complaint to GEM human resources despite her supervisor’s alleged discouragement. At this time, documents stated that the victim had also received reports of the maintenance technician’s “threatening and concerning behavior” from tenants.

On April 24, 2023, court documents note that the victim was directed to enter an empty apartment with the alleged harasser.

“Once there, [omitted’s] harasser physically cornered her and told her that he knew about her harassment complaints and that he would find her, shoot her, and torture her if her complaints impacted his employment or his marriage,” the lawsuit said. “In fear for her life, [omitted] immediately left the apartment and resigned from her position at GEM Management on April 25, 2023, telling managerial staff that she did not want to leave her job but that her harasser had learned about her complaints against him, that her requests not to work with him because of sexual harassment were not honored, and that he now had made serious statements that put her in fear for her and her family’s safety and forced her to resign against her wishes.”

The victim leaving her role at Oakview Apartments did not stop the reported harassment, as court documents state that the maintenance technician allegedly continued to make threatening calls to the victim after she resigned.

“Federal law makes clear that employers cannot ignore sexual harassment,” EEOC trial attorney Kathleen Bensberg said. “We will vigorously pursue relief for this victim and in the public interest.”

The lawsuit calls for a “permanent injunction” from GEM Management for violating Title VII, carrying out required policies, back pay, and damages for the victim, as well as legal fees.

GEM Management has yet to file an answer to the litigation, according to court records.

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