Single Mom Says She Was Sexually Harassed at Pizza Place

By Joseph Hosey

A single mother who worked as a cashier for the Rosati's Pizza restaurants in Oswego and Montgomery claims her boss pressured her for lap dances and sex, then fired her when she complained.

The woman, 23-year-old Shannon Pugh, filed a lawsuit in Will County court against the restaurants and their general manager, Arturo Carlos.

"This is a case about shocking and offensive sexual harassment, retaliation and termination/constructive discharge, perpetrated by defendants against a young female employee who is a single mother," the lawsuit said.

Pugh, reportedly a Will County resident, worked at the two Rosati's from 2009 until she was fired in June 2011. The lawsuit alleges the restaurant offices not only "had pictures of women in underwear, bikinis and other scantily clad outfits in provocative poses" but that Carlos made Pugh a target of his sexual desires.

Carlos offered Pugh hundreds of dollars for a lap dance, the lawsuit said, and repeatedly told her and texted her, "let's do it." He also allegedly told Pugh she was "beautiful."

Carlos stepped up his sexually suggestive texting when he "believed (Pugh) had gone out drinking with friends," the lawsuit said.

Carlos also "would stare at" Pugh," the suit said, "looking up and down at (her) body in a sexually provocative manner" and he "inappropriately touched (her), including but not limited to touching her leg, pulling on her shorts, blocking her way and touching her when she would try to walk by him."

The lawsuit went on to allege that Carlos, a Kendall County resident, demanded sex from Pugh in exchange for providing her with a set schedule and more work hours.

After Pugh went to Carlos' supervisor, the suit said, Carlos took her off the work schedule and stripped her of her employee food discount. She was ultimately fired, according to the lawsuit.

Pugh also brought her complaints to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which "cross-filed her charges of discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights," the lawsuit said.

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