Kian Cooper Long Island man files sexual harassment lawsuit against his former female boss at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center alleging being forced into having sex or risk being fired.
She insists it was consensual.. but was it? A Long Island man has alleged in a $100 million sexual harassment lawsuit against his former female boss of being forced into having to perform ‘early morning quickies’.
Kian Cooper, 50, a single dad of two children, with a past drug conviction, alleges that his former boss Michele Poole, a program director at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, a drug rehab center, in Long Island, Queens, NYC, 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 $100m sexual harassment suit filed with Brooklyn’s Supreme Court, the hapless worker alleges being threatened with being terminated whenever he resisted, with Poole allegedly bragging that she was a ‘Mercedes’ that needed ‘upkeep’.
‘Even a Mercedes needs a tune up sometimes….’
The suit further alleges the female director invoking former President Barack Obama to justify their sexual encounters, remarks allegedly overheard by colleagues due to ‘audible noises’ coming from her office.
Cooper claims he pleaded with Poole more than 100 times, both in person and through text messages, to stop the advances.
The ex employee further alleges 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.
‘I asked her to stop, face to face, numerous times, more than 100 times and in text messages about 12 to 14 times,’ Cooper contended according to the suit cited by the nypost.
According to Cooper, Poole once told him: ‘Find another job.’
Can males ever be victims of unwanted predatory behavior and abuse?
Cooper in court filings states 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.
Poole has, however, vehemently denied all accusations when questioned by the nypost.
Speaking to the outlet 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 told the tabloid.
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 the suit alleges.
‘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?’
‘I basically was just trying to take the abuse and save my job,’ said Cooper who is still employed as a clinical supervisor with Saint Joseph’s.
Poole is no longer employed at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. It remains unclear whether she was dismissed or left voluntarily. Indeed …
