L.I. Woman Says She Was Wrongfully Fired After Rejecting Ex-Boss' Sexual Advances
CARLE PLACE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A former Long Island medical assistant has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her former boss.
Katie Chaput, 22, of Levittown, claims she was wrongfully fired after rejecting Dr. Henry Balboa's sexual advances.
Chaput told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera that in one instance, the 70-year-old podiatrist invited her to dinner at The Palace Restaurant in Plainview to discuss a raise and began groping her at the restaurant.
L.I. Woman Says She Was Wrongfully Fired After Rejecting Former Boss' Sexual Advances
"I pushed his hand off of me and he started talking to me about sex and asked me how much he would have to pay me and what he would have to do to have sex with me," Chaput said.
EXTRA: Read The Full Complaint (pdf)
Balboa also told her she was "beautiful," that he loved staring at her body while at work and that he was in love with her, according to a complaint filed with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
He then forcibly kissed her, according to the complaint.
"Horrified, scared, and repulsed by the unwanted contact, she pulled her mouth away and immediately walked out of the restaurant," the complaint read.
Following that incident, the doctor would criticize and scream at Chaput in the office in front of her colleagues and patients, according the complaint.
Balbo also threatened to rape Chaput, according to the complaint.
Chaput claims she was later fired after complaining to the office manager about Balboa's actions.
Chaput said she has since been unable to find work and believes Balboa has been giving negative references to potential employers.
"This is the first impression that she's been given of the work place in the medical field and it's disgusting," said Chaput's attorney, Dave Rosenberg of Leeds Brown.
The complaint also charges that Balboa made Chaput do "odd jobs," such as babysit his grandchildren, and the he drank alcohol while at work and was often inebriated at the office.
A woman working at the doctor's Plainview office said Balboa has no comment.
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