It looks like the owners of famous St. Louis restaurant Sweetie Pie’s have a bit of legal trouble on their hands.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, former employee Veronica Tate, who was employed at the business’ Mangrove location for one week in 2012, filed a lawsuit against Sweetie Pie’s in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Tuesday, October 15. In her suit, she claims that she was subjected to constant sexual harassment by Ike, who is a line cook. She claims that he touched her, bumped her and made sexually suggestive comments.Tate claims that when she complained to management about Ike’s behavior, her concerns were not taken very seriously.
“That’s Ike. That’s how he is,” someone from management allegedly told her.
After her complaints ensued, Tate says that she was instructed to go and speak to the company’s business manager, Charles Bussey, who promised to transfer her to the restaurant’s Upper Crust location. However, she says that Bussey never got back to her about starting at the other location. Tate’s first complaint was filed with the Equal Opportunity Commission in February 2013. It’s currently unclear what became of that. For her newly filed lawsuit, she is requesting a jury trial.
On OWN reality show “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” which is based on the restaurant and its employees, Ike is portrayed at times as a problem child of sorts. He has been employed by the business for more than seven years and according to the network’s website, he has been “fired and re-hired” numerous times by founder Miss Robbie.
So far, reps for Sweetie Pie’s have not publicly responded to Tate’s lawsuit.
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