New lawsuit alleges "culture of harassment and intimidation" at JAXPORT, USSA

Jacksonville, FL — Disturbing claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and a hostile work environment are being alleged in a new lawsuit filed against the Jacksonville Port Authority and several other parties.

Glenda Prinzi, a former employee of US Securities Associates, Inc (USSA), which was at the time contracted by JAXPORT, is suing USSA, JAXPORT, as well as three individuals. One of those individuals was an employee of USSA, while the other two worked for JAXPORT.

In the lawsuit, Prinzi alleges that JAXPORT employee Steve Rhatigan encouraged her to apply for a position in the JAXPORT communications department around March 2015. But she claims after submitting an application, Rhatigan made several sexual advances toward her, including asking her to have sex with him.

The lawsuit says Prinzi repeatedly said this made her uncomfortable, but that "Rhatigan continually reiterated the job opportunity he would get for plaintiff [Prinzi]." The suit says she feared that if she did not participate, it would undermine her job chances, so she ultimately relented.

After getting the job, Prinzi then alleges in the lawsuit that Charles White-- who was at the time the Director of Security at JAXPORT-- also made unwelcome advances, including grabbing her waist, trying to kiss her, and asking when they were going to have a 'real rendezvous.'

The lawsuit says White later promoted her to the Communications Center Manager and then asked her to meet him at a restaurant to discuss something work-related with this encounter happening in July 2016. However, the lawsuit claims White actually talked about how Prinzi could repay him for the promotion. The suit says that  conversation further escalated, with White asking her to get a hotel room and have sex with him. Prinzi citing fear she could lose this promotion says she ultimately agreed to the request. White later resigned in March 2017, only a month or so after an anonymous letter had been sent to JAXPORT detailing his alleged misconduct.

In September 2016, Prinzi says she was ordered by her immediate supervisor at USSA, Glenn 'Eddie' Kitchens, to take part in employee interviews in his office. During those interviews, the lawsuit says Kitchens made unwelcome physical and sexual advances toward her and even allegedly sexually molested her. The lawsuit says this led up to an incident where Kitchen sexually assaulted Prinzi inside his truck.

The lawsuit says Prinzi's new supervisor further harassed her via emails and demanded she return to work only three days after the alleged assault by Kitchens. However, this supervisor is not named directly as a party in this lawsuit.

Due to this ongoing "culture of harassment and intimidation", the lawsuit says Prinzi felt forced to resign from her position as Communications Manager. The lawsuit also cites a failure by these parties to address her mental health, physical well-being, and safety.

As part of the lawsuit, Prinzi is asking for back pay and front pay until she can placed into an equivalent position, actual and compensatory damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and whatever else the court deems proper.

The CEO of JAXPORT, Eric Green, briefly addressed this lawsuit and the allegations during Monday’s Board of Directors meeting.

“JAXPORT was recently named on a lawsuit alleging improper conduct by one former and one current employee of JAXPORT. These allegations cover the time frame from March 2015 to February 2017. While it is our longtime policy not to comment on specifics of current litigation, I want to reiterate that I have a zero tolerance for workforce harassment of any kind. I have communicated this clearly to all of our employees when I took over as CEO and have done so repeatedly. JAXPORT’s longstanding policy strictly prohibits supervisors from using their authority to intimidate, coerce, or harass anyone, during the course of their work. Every JAXPORT employee is required to pledge that they have read and thoroughly understand this policy and must go through a mandatory anti-harassment training. I take these allegations very seriously and will not tolerate improper workplace behavior. I will continue to provide JAXPORT employees and our contractors, a work environment that is respectful, tolerant, and free from discrimination,” says Green.

A JAXPORT spokesperson also points out that all these allegations cover a time period that was before Green took over as CEO.

During Monday’s board meeting, JAXPORT says its lawyers are working to gather details about this lawsuit with that likely taking a few weeks. After that process, the board expects to discuss legal options and how they want to proceed.

Full JAXPORT Board of Directors meeting below: