FRESNO – A Fresno County woman alleges she was terminated from her position as a bookkeeper for a Fowler business because she declined a manager's sexual advances.
Fatima Awawda filed a complaint on Sept. 25 in the Fresno County Superior Court against Palm Cabinets, Antonio Mariscal and Does 1-100 alleging failure to prevent harassment, discrimination, retaliation and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was hired by Palm Cabinets in September 2016 as a bookkeeper.
She alleges she was subjected to sexual harassment from Mariscal and that on Oct. 5, 2016, his wife followed her when she went to pick up her children from school and then home. She also alleges Mariscal made racial and religious comments about her in the workplace.
The plaintiff alleges she was terminated the month after she was hired because she refused Mariscal's sexual advances.
The plaintiff holds Palm Cabinets, Mariscal and Does 1-100 responsible because the defendants allegedly discriminated against her and harassed her because she is a Muslim and because of her gender.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks all damages, plus interest, attorney's fees, costs and such other and further relief as this court may deem proper. She is represented by Larry H. Shapazian of Tomassian, Pimentel & Shapazian in Fresno.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 18CECG03561