Clifford v. American Drug Stores8/22/2005
advice. He said, " his is a male dominated company, don't rock the boat." David Drake, another general manager, told her just to move on. So Clifford spoke to Ashcroft and contacted her district manager, Ron Howard, to request a transfer, but she did not say why.
While still managing the Baldwin Park store, Clifford became an increasingly cynical person, found it more and more difficult to concentrate, was frequently ill, suffered migraines, muscle spasms, chest pains, and was unable to eat or sleep.
Clifford transferred to the Montebello store in the Fall of 1995. Richard Staiti was her market manager there for the first six months, and she had a peaceful working environment under him, made many accomplishments, and received a good performance review. Staiti told her that if she kept doing as well as she was doing, she would eventually be promoted to market manager, that it was an advantage being female, since there were not many female market managers, and she was the only woman general manager in her district.
She was not entirely free of Doose, however, who telephoned her several times during that period, telling her in a raspy, sensual tone that he missed her. Clifford would tell him that he was crazy and that she did not miss him, and she would hang up on him.
Six months into the Montebello assignment, the company realigned the districts, transferring Staiti and the district manager to other stores. Gene Mlenar became Clifford's district manager, and Hank Casillas became her market manager. Clifford knew that Mlenar and Doose were very close, like brothers, that they had worked together for over 30 years, sometimes rooming together, and were known in the company as the "Skagg boys." A few months later, in October 1996, Clifford was transferred to the Baldwin Park Sav-On Store. This time, the transfer was not a promotion. Baldwin Park was a new store in a tough neighborhood, and needed improvement. And then Doose was installed as her market manager, although Baldwin Park was not a "market store." Clifford said nothing to Mlenar at that time about Doose's behavior.
Doose resumed his practice of coming into her store late in the day, making advances and lewd comments. He would visit the store twice a week, usually when she was alone, although market managers usually visit only once a week. Clifford would leave the door to her office open, so she could be seen by the cashiers, but once when they were alone in the stockroom, he put his hand on her buttocks. If she bent over, he would say he loved the view, and twice, when she walked in front of him, he put his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him. When she pulled away, telling him to leave her alone, he would say, "I know you like it, Benissa."
In January 1997, Doose accused Clifford of marking down merchandise and purchasing it herself, but she was later exonerated. Soon after that, Doose gave Cl
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