White Castle argues in an employee's suit that she failed to wear protective gear when working with a fryer and then proceeded to remove her pants in a public place, which she knew was under video surveillance.
Savanna Ankeny filed her complaint on Aug. 17 against White Castle Systems Inc. and Jakaria Riddle.
According to her complaint, Ankeny alleges she became aware on Aug. 22, 2016, that Riddle was sharing a video recording of her being burned and removing her pants while in the course of her employment with White Castle.
Ankeny alleges the defendants shared the video depicting her receiving an injury and removing clothing without consent or authorization.
White Castle and Riddle answered the complaint on Oct. 13 through attorneys Beth Kamp Veath and M. Tucker Blaser of Brown & James PC in Belleville.
In their affirmative defenses, they claim any alleged injuries were caused solely by the plaintiff’s own negligence in failing to exercise due care for her own safety and privacy, failing to follow proper procedures when working with or cleaning the equipment, failing to wear the appropriate protective gear when working with the fryer and removing her pants in a public place, which she knew was under video surveillance.
They also argue that any alleged damages caused no actual harm and that any actions taken with respect to the video recording were justified and consented to by the plaintiff.
Ankeny filed a response to the affirmative defenses on Oct. 10 through attorneys Keith Short and Jack Daugherty of the Law Office of Keith Short in Collinsville. She denies the allegations and demands strict proof thereof.
She seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus punitive damages and any other relief the court deems just.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-446