Opinion ID: 78425
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Reports of Harassment

Text: Raya first discussed Cavaluzzi's conduct with Donna Calhoun in April. Calhoun was a store human resources manager, one of the persons listed in the Home Depot policy to be contacted in a case of sexual harassment when an employee does not feel comfortable discussing it with other managers. In June, Corbitt also contacted Calhoun about Cavaluzzi's conduct. Corbitt testified that he feared for his job and did not want Calhoun to make a formal complaint about Cavaluzzi's conduct. Corbitt hoped Calhoun would be able to do something about Cavaluzzi's harassment without Corbitt losing his job. He did not want Calhoun to anger Cavaluzzi, but he wanted the inappropriate behavior to stop. In June, Calhoun spoke directly with Cavaluzzi, who was her boss, about his conduct. She told Cavaluzzi that Corbitt and Raya were uncomfortable with his behavior and felt that he was sexually harassing them; that Cavaluzzi should stop this behavior; and that if he did not, it was likely to become a formal issue. Between June and December 13, 2005, the date when both Corbitt and Raya were fired, Calhoun talked to Cavaluzzi on at least four separate occasions about his inappropriate behavior toward the two store managers. She testified that Cavaluzzi's response was that her concerns were ridiculous. Other complaints were made to managers at Home Depot concerning Cavaluzzi's actions. In August, Raya told Rich Edgeworth, a store human resources manager, that he wanted to file a formal complaint, even though he felt that he would be fired. Edgeworth agreed to report Cavaluzzi's actions. Although Edgeworth quit his job before making the report, Edgeworth told Calhoun that since he was no longer an employee of Home Depot, it was up to her to do what was necessary about Cavaluzzi's behavior. Further, after complaining to Calhoun in June, Corbitt complained directly to McLaughlin in the fall of 2005. In addition, at some point after his complaint to Edgeworth and before he was terminated, Raya received a report from his store human resources manager, Susan Parker, about statements that Cavaluzzi had made to her, such as that Cavaluzzi was going to get Raya, Raya's days were numbered, and Raya was not out of the woods. She also told Raya that Lenny had a hard-on for him, which she stated meant that Cavaluzzi had it in for Raya. Additionally, Parker reported that Cavaluzzi had instructed her to have Raya call Cavaluzzi directly if Raya had a problem with Cavaluzzi's comments. Before Raya called Cavaluzzi, however, he placed a call to McLaughlin to explain what had happened and to advise that he was going to call Cavaluzzi. Raya decided it would be wise to partner with his district manager to resolve the problem; therefore, he told McLaughlin of Cavaluzzi's sexual comments and that Cavaluzzi's threats were being made because Raya had refused Cavaluzzi's sexual advances. McLaughlin told Raya not to call Cavaluzzi and chastised Parker for repeating Cavaluzzi's comments to Raya. On November 18, 2005, Corbitt and Raya directed Calhoun to do whatever had to be done to make Cavaluzzi stop his inappropriate behavior. Calhoun later told both Corbitt and Raya that she had filed complaints on their behalf. Because Calhoun was warned by Cavaluzzi never to go over his head, Calhoun reported his inappropriate behavior to one of Cavaluzzi's business partners in the region, McLaughlin, who was on a level equal to Cavaluzzi. When all her efforts to get Cavaluzzi to stop harassing Corbitt and Raya failed, including reporting the harassment to McLaughlin, she called the Aware Line, as specified in Home Depot's policy, and reported Cavaluzzi's sexual harassment. After the Aware Line complaint was made in late November, Cavaluzzi ceased harassing both Corbitt and Raya.