Charter installer accused of assaulting customer

A woman has filed suit against her cable provider, alleging one of its installers sexually assaulted her while hooking up cable to her home.

Kembra Courtland filed suit April 16 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Mario Britton and Charter Communications Inc.

According to the complaint, Courtland called Charter Communications to have cable installed at her home. During the phone call, she provided the cable company with her personal cell phone number, according to the complaint. Defendant Mario Britton arrived at Courtland’s home and during the installation, Britton allegedly began making sexual innuendos toward Courtland, the suit states.

He escalated his behavior towards the plaintiff and began sending her texts from his telephone that were sexually insulting to the plaintiff, the complaint says. Defendant Britton then allegedly blocked the plaintiff within her bedroom and would not allow her to leave, according to the complaint.

Courtland claims she requested Britton and another installer to leave her home, then called the Cahokia Police Department to report the incident. Since then, she has suffered emotional distress and has endured an anxiety disorder believed to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to the complaint.

Courtland is seeking a judgment of more than $250,000, plus punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and other relief the court deems just. She is being represented in the case by Brian L. Polinske of Polinske and Associates in Edwardsville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-294.