Former FKG Oil employee claims she was fired for reporting harassment

A Roxana woman has filed suit against her former employer, alleging she was fired after alleging workplace sexual harassment.

April Spurgeon claims she was working as an assistant manager for defendant FKG Oil Company at its Godfrey location when her direct supervisor, Dennis McCullough, began to sexually harass her shortly after he was hired in October 2010, according to the complaint filed July 18 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Upset about McCullough’s actions, Spurgeon reported his behavior to her general manager Dave Kitson in February of 2012, the suit states. She requested that she no longer be scheduled to work alone with McCullough and that disciplinary actions be taken against him, the complaint says.

Not only was no action taken against McCullough, but Spurgeon was terminated in May 2012, she claims.

“Defendant FKG gave a pre-textual reason for her termination citing a violation of social media policy,” the suit states. “Defendant FKG treated plaintiff differently than other employees who did not complain of sexual harassment and who had violated the company’s social media policy.”

Because of her termination, Spurgeon claims she lost wages, her earning capacity, fringe benefits and career opportunities; experienced pain and suffering; and endured shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, loss of sleep and an interference with her enjoyment of life.

In her complaint, Spurgeon says FKG violated the Illinois Human Rights Act.

She is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs, interest, attorneys’ fees and other relief the court deems just.

Peter S. Blasi of Granite City will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-194.