Former Fresno Zoo Employee Files Harassment Lawsuit when Retaliated

January 21, 2010

Fresno- A former zoo groundskeeper has filed a lawsuit against Fresno Chaffee Zoo, alleging that she was retaliated after complaining that a co-employee groped her and made continued sexual comments addressed to her.

In the suit filed in Fresno County Superior Court, Rebecca Cummings claimed that the other zoo groundskeeper continued to confront her though she told him to stop and even grabbed her breast at one point.

The civil trial will start on April 5 on Cumming’s allegations of defamation, discrimination, and sexual harassment, with the zoo and its human resource worker Diana Ramirez as defendants.

Ramirez was charged for her failure to conduct an investigation immediately but two weeks yet following the initial complaint. The suit also claimed that the zoo official failed to thoroughly analyze the situation.

Judge Alan Simpson ordered Cummings to undergo a medical examination because she says that she has suffered ongoing emotional anguish due to what happened.

Cummings did not state the amount of punitive damages she is asking from the defendants.

The zoo’s lawyer refused to comment regarding the lawsuit.