Missouri Employee Sues Ozarks Food Harvest

A former Ozarks Food Harvest employee says in a lawsuit against the organization that she suffered sexual harassment and retaliation while at work.

Jacquie Neill, a former resource coordinator for the Springfield-based food bank, on Monday sued the organization and James Thompson, director of operations and her direct supervisor.

Neill alleges in the lawsuit that Thompson and other co-workers made inappropriate sexual comments toward her in 2008. She complained to local and state officials.

Neill’s attorney, Jay Kirksey, says she was fired just days before she obtained a Right to Sue letter from the Missouri Commission of Human Rights. He says the food bank knew Neill was fired that she was planning to sue over the harassment.

When the food bank fired Neill, officials cited complaints from volunteers.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader,
http://www.news-leader.com