Friday, September 18, 2009
A police report was filed last year, but no charges were brought.
CAMPBELL — A nurse from Campbell Elementary School is suing the school’s principal and the Campbell school board.
In a suit filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas court Wednesday, Rosemarie Cooper, 45, of Struthers alleges the principal, Dr. Robert Walls, made unwelcome sexual advances and disparaging ethnic remarks to her.
Cooper, who began working at the school in 2005, alleges Walls also physically attacked her Sept. 19, 2008.
The suit describes the allegation this way:
“Dr. Walls approached Mrs. Cooper from behind while she was sitting at her desk. He then forcefully pushed the back of her head down into the desk, pinning her head to the desk with his arm.”
The suit also says that when she tried to go home early that day because of the alleged attack, Walls blocked the exit and refused to let her leave until her scheduled time off.
“Mrs. Cooper has been on physician-ordered medical leave since the assault,” the suit says. She is still employed by the district, said Superintendent Thomas Robey.
Cooper filed a police report over the allegation Sept. 23, 2008. Walls was not charged, police records indicate.
Cooper’s lawyer, Bradley J. Barmen of Cleveland, would not say whether she reported her allegations to Robey or the school board.
The suit says that “the offensive and unwelcome harassment to which Mrs. Cooper was subjected at the hands of her direct supervisor was known to management employees who failed to take any remedial measures to correct the offensive treatment.”
The suit asks for “damages in an amount in excess of $25,000” and attorney fees and costs.
Robey said Thursday that he would not comment on any aspect of the suit.
Walls also said Thursday he would not comment.