Worker claims sexual harassment in suit against Amsted Industries

A Granite City man claims his employer began treating him differently after he made sexual harassment complaints against a manager who allegedly placed a sexually explicit card in his locker.

Joe Evanoff filed a lawsuit May 3 in Madison County Circuit Court against Amsted Industries doing business as Amsted Rail Company, also known as ASF-Keystone.

Evanoff claims he worked for the defendant when he became the subject of sexual harassment by his supervisor, Karl Wolf.

"Managerial employee Wolf placed a sexually explicit card related to a male stripper in plaintiff's work locker," the suit states. "Managerial employee Wolf knew, at the time that he placed sexually explicit materials in plaintiff's locker, that plaintiff was a deeply religious individual who was especially sensitive to obscene and sexually explicit materials."

Following the incident, Evanoff reported Wolf's conduct to his superiors and to his union, according to the complaint. However, since Evanoff's reports, he has been deprived of income, wages, overtime and other employment conditions that his similarly situated co-workers receive, the complaint says.

Because of his managers' retaliatory treatment, Evanoff claims he suffered lost wages, loss of benefits, emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, pain and suffering.

In his complaint, Evanoff seeks compensatory damages of more than $75,000, punitive damages of more than $75,000, costs, expenses, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.

Lee W. Barron of Alton will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-481.