Former Employee Suing 5 B’s

A Zanesville woman and her husband are suing 5 B’s Incorporated, an owner and one supervisor for a hostile work environment. In the suit filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Robin Bland and Bobby Bland claim the defendant Chad Trout engaged in behavior which created a hostile work environment and Todd Biles retaliated by firing Mrs Bland. The suit alleges that Mr. Trout would from time to time approach Mrs. Bland and explain to her his sexual preference and ask her to share stories of her sex life with him. The suit says she would refuse and ask Trout to stop telling her these things. The suit also alleges that Trout exposed himself to Bland on multiple occasions and made repeated requests for sexual favors and that Trout would routinely grab her buttocks. The suit goes on to say that Bland complained to Human Resources Director Kris Nash who said he believed her complaints and would make sure that it never happened again. At one point, according to the suit, the defendant asked Biles if he knew she complained to Human Resources and Biles said yes, but that after he investigated it, he did not believe Trout engaged in wrongful activity. The suit says Biles then accused Bland of being a disgruntled employee and was terminated. The suit is asking for back and front pay, vacation pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees. Todd Biles of 5 B’s told Whiz News that the suit is without merit, there are no facts and no support to the allegations – it is just a witch hunt. Biles says Bland is a disgruntled employee who quit and has already lost 3 appeals from Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. No word on when the case will be heard in court.