CHARLESTON (AP) — West Virginia’s Supreme Court has upheld a $2.1 million judgment awarded against CSX Transportation in a hostile work environment case.
A Boone County jury found that trainmaster Angela Smith was wrongly fired by the railroad company in 2009 after reporting sexually offensive language by CSX employee Wes Knick.
Thursday’s ruling said Smith also endured threatening and harassing phone calls afterward. A co-worker who also reported Knick’s conduct was attacked while working on a train, and hospitalized for several days with a severe concussion.
The 4-1 ruling says CSX’s conduct in the case justified a verdict that included $500,000 in punitive damages.
Chief Justice Menis Ketchum dissented, finding that the relevant evidence amounted to “one boorish comment.”
CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan said the company was reviewing the decision.
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