Arizona EMT Seeks Damages for Alleged Sexual Harassment
A Tucson emergency medical technician says in a lawsuit moved to federal court last week that she was fired after she refused a supervisor's sexual advances and complained to superiors.
Jun. 20--A Tucson emergency medical technician says in a lawsuit moved to federal court last week that she was fired after she refused a supervisor's sexual advances and complained to superiors.
Diana Overton is suing Healthcare Innovations Inc., a nonprofit ambulance company that serves northern Cochise County, for back pay, future lost wages and damages for emotional stress.
Company officials declined to comment.
In her lawsuit, Overton alleges that her supervisor, Chris Dilts, "made numerous sexual advances" during several months. Dilts couldn't be reached for comment. It is unclear whether he still works at the company.
"Dilts informed other employees of these desires, and even broadcast that he had a special place on his 'wall of art' for Overton, which is a wall in his home on which he has allegedly had women whose breasts were painted place an imprint of their chests," according to the lawsuit.
Overton also claims she was assaulted by Dilts at work.
"Dilts forcefully grabbed Overton and pressed her against a wall, informing her that he didn't take rejection well and that things could happen at the office that no one else would discover," according to the lawsuit.
After that, Overton drove to the company's offices in Benson to inform officials about her supervisor's behavior.
She was away from work for wrist surgery, and when she returned to work she discovered that someone had removed a word from her "return to light duty" form, making it look like "return to ___ duty."
Overton alleges that incident led to her being fired in January for failing to follow company policies. Dilts sent her a text message that said, "You did this to yourself, all I did was care about you," according to the lawsuit.
The case, which was filed in Pima County Superior Court in April and moved to U.S. District Court on Friday, also names Healthcare Innovations CEO James Broome, James Jensen and Melody Jones for being aware of the sexual harassment and not stopping it. The company has not yet filed a response in district court.
--Contact reporter Becky Pallack at 573-4224 or at bpallack@azstarnet.com
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