PENSACOLA — A former bank employee is suing Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, citing alleged gender discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation and violation of workers compensation acts.
Julie Stone of Destin filed a complaint on March 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida against the financial institution alleging that it breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, on Jan. 26, 2015, she was subjected to harassment, ridicule and a hostile work environment and has suffered from anxiety and difficult economic circumstances as a result of the discrimination from defendant upon learning of her recent same-sex marriage, and retaliatory termination of her employment for having complained about the discrimination directed toward her. In addition, plaintiff was not paid time and one-half her regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours per work week.
The plaintiff holds the defendant responsible because it allegedly failed to properly calculate her regular rate of pay, failed to investigate whether the defendant's payroll practices were in accordance with the FLSA and subjected plaintiff to adverse working conditions and treatment because of her gender, sex and sexual orientation.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, declaratory relief, enjoinder from further violation, lost wages, fringe benefits, pension and other lost benefits, front pay, compensatory and liquidated damages, attorney's fees and further relief. She is represented by Clayton M. Connors and R. John Westberry of Westberry & Connors LLC in Pensacola.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida Case number 17-cv-00195