Former Town Employee Says She Was Sexually Harassed by Supervisor -- Subpoenas Issued

Former Town Employee Says She Was Sexually Harassed by Supervisor -- Subpoenas Issued

A former town employee in Rhode Island is alleging she was sexually harassed by a supervisor and was retaliated against when she reported it — and has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court. 

Teresa Graham has sued the Town of Smithfield “by and through its employees,” after she said she “became the object of unwanted, offensive sexual advances, misconduct, and abuse, sexual harassment, and coercive, and manipulative treatment and behavior at work” by Deputy Town Clerk Lyn Antonuccio — her direct supervisor. 

Now, GoLocal has learned that subpoenas have recently been issued to former and current town employees in the lawsuit that was initially filed in February of 2022. 

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About Case

In Graham’s suit, she says she was first employed by the Town of Smithfield in April of 2016 as a part-time administrative assistant, before being promoted in February 2022 to a full-time position as an administrative clerk in the office of the Town Clerk -- on a probationary basis. 

Following her appointment, Graham alleges that she was the victim of the following from Antonuccio: “Unwanted and offensive sexual touching and hugging; grabbing and fondling of her breasts and buttocks; unwanted and offensive attempts to kiss [her]; having Graham work overtime so that Antonuccio could be alone with Graham; encouraging Graham to move into an apartment with Antonuccio; pulling Graham’s hands against her will into Antonuccio’s crotch” and more. 

Graham asserts that as a woman, she was a “member of a protected class under the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act and the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act.”

“Antonuccio’s supervisors knew or should have known of Antonuccio’s unwanted, unlawful, and wrongful harassment and abusive conduct and treatment of Graham as aforesaid and did nothing to correct or prevent it,” according to the lawsuit. 

 

Alleged Retaliation 

Graham, in her lawsuit, said the “offensive, unlawful, and wrongful conduct” affected her work performance and caused her to relapse after years of sobriety — and that she was informed by Antonuccio in October 2020 that after her probationary period as an administrative clerk was over, that she would be fired.

According to the suit — that same day, Graham reported Antonuccio’s conduct to Human Resources Manager Susan Pilkington and Town Manager Randy Rossi — but that they did “not change her immediate supervisor, job assignment, or work environment.” 

Graham said two weeks later, she was called into a meeting with town officials regarding her report, but that her union shop steward was not present, nor was she allowed to bring a lawyer. 

At that meeting, Graham said that a video was shown of Antonuccio touching her breasts, which caused Graham to become “physically, mentally, and emotionally debilitated.” 

Following the meeting and interrogation by Vincent Ragosta — the attorney hired by the town to interrogate her — Graham said she sought the help of mental health professionals and was given a note by a provider that Graham was “to be kept out of work until further notice.” 

The following month, Graham sought counseling for substance abuse disorder, according to the suit. 

“Throughout the time of that admission and treatment, Graham’s communication with the outside world was restricted and as such, Graham did not receive letters from Rossi…informing Graham that the Town’s investigation of her complaint determined that Antonuccio did not violate any policies or governing laws” — and that she was being fired for “job abandonment," according to the suit.  

Graham said due to retaliation by the town for her complaint that she was subject to opposition to her unemployment compensation claim. 

According to her suit, Graham filed a charge of discrimination against the Town with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights and requested a right-to-sue letter — which was granted in November 2021. 

“We served a first round of deposition subpoenas on the following persons,” attorney Tim Eskey, who is representing Graham, told GoLocal. He provided the following list: 

Katie Closson (deputy clerk)
Carolyn Bouchard (administrative clerk)
Carol Banville (license coordinator)
Carol Aquilante (former town clerk)
Susan Pilkington (human resources administrator)
Randy Rossi (town manager)
Suzanna Alba (council)
Maxine Cavanaugh (council)
Sean Kilduff (council)

GoLocal reached out to Antonuccio, the attorneys for the town and individuals who received subpoenas for comment.