A woman claims she is unable to return to her job at United States Steel Corporation after she was groped by security officers searching for an alleged hidden recording device on her body that she insists was not in existence.
Cynthia Patterson filed a lawsuit Feb. 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against United States Steel Corporation and Chad C. Weiss.
In her complaint, Patterson alleges she was working at U.S. Steel on Feb. 12, 2010, when her supervisor, Weiss, accused her of recording other employees without their knowledge or permission. Patterson contends the allegations were not true.
Because of Weiss's indictment, security officers restrained Patterson from leaving her office while they groped her and forced her to disrobe in an attempt to find the alleged hidden recording device, according to the complaint.
"Plaintiff was prevented from leaving to use the bathroom, before and after she urinated in her clothing," the suit states. "Plaintiff was told she 'was not going anywhere.'"
Because of the incident, Patterson claims she suffered embarrassment, humiliation and extreme emotional distress. She experienced a "permanent emotional break down constituting permanent disability and inability to work," the complaint says.
In her four-count complaint, Patterson seeks a judgment of more than $300,000, plus other relief the court deems just.
Mark Levy of Levy and Suarez in Collinsville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-199.
US Steel sued by worker who claims she was groped by security
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