An American man has filed a staggering Sh13 billion lawsuit against his former boss, accusing her of years of sexual harassment and coercion into repeated lewd encounters at their workplace.
The complainant, Kian Cooper, a Long Island resident and single father with a past drug conviction, alleges that his former boss Michele Poole, a program director at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, forced him into early-morning “quickies” two to three times a week at the start of his 6:00 a.m. shift.
According to Cooper’s court filings, Poole threatened his job whenever he resisted, bragging that she was a “Mercedes” that needed “upkeep,” and even invoked former U.S. President Barack Obama to justify their encounters, remarks allegedly overheard by colleagues due to “audible noises” coming from her office.
Cooper claims he pleaded with her more than 100 times, both in person and through text messages, to stop the advances.
He further states that the prolonged harassment left him with PTSD, forcing him to take medical leave.
The alleged encounters reportedly took place for years at the Queens drug rehabilitation centre where they both worked.
Court documents quote Poole telling him:
“Barack met Michelle at work. She was his boss. Be presidential… I think the next text should be saying ‘Thank you.’”
She allegedly added:
“I’m sooo undervalued. You know even a Mercedes needs a tune-up sometimes.”
Whenever Cooper attempted to cut off the affair, Poole allegedly threatened to fire him.
Cooper told the court that colleagues were well aware of what was happening “because of the loud noises relative to sexual activities” coming from behind the closed doors of Poole’s fourth-floor office.
According to Cooper, Poole once told him:
“Find another job.”
Poole has, however, vehemently denied all accusations when questioned by multiple news outlets.
She insists their six-month affair was consensual and claims Cooper was the one who showered her with gifts and romantic messages.
She also maintains she had no hiring or firing authority.
“He’s just making stuff up. I have proof of the intimate things he sent me. I have credible evidence and I will be filing a lawsuit against anyone who slanders me,” she said.
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The alleged encounters occurred two to three times a week in Poole’s office, often right at the start of Cooper’s shift when she summoned him upstairs.
“After a while, I would do things to avoid her,” Cooper claimed.
He added;
“Walking from the third to the fourth floor, I would think, ‘Damn it, how am I going to get out of this office without feeling gross?’”
Poole is no longer employed at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center.
It remains unclear whether she was dismissed or left voluntarily.
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