By Suzanne Carlson
Journal Inquirer
Published: Tuesday, March 1, 2011 11:51 AM EST

A former employee of the ticket resale software firm TicketNetwork Inc. has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit that claims she was fired two days after complaining to a company lawyer about unwanted sexual comments and touching from the company’s chief executive officer.

In a lawsuit filed in Hartford Superior Court on Dec. 14, Michele Ann Suttile of Glastonbury claims that after being hired as a marketing assistant on July 13, 2009, she suffered ongoing sexual harassment from TicketNetwork CEO Donald J. Vaccaro before being terminated on Dec. 11, 2009.

The 12-page document outlines five counts against Vaccaro and the company, including sexual harassment, sexual or gender discrimination, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring.

Throughout the course of her five-month tenure at TicketNetwork, at 137 Bolton Road in Vernon, Suttile claims she was “subjected to continuous, severe, pervasive, insulting, and offensive remarks, sexual harassment and sexual advancements by Mr. Vaccaro, defendant company CEO.”

The lawsuit cites several specific instances in which Vaccaro allegedly made sexual comments or advances on Suttile in the company of TicketNetwork employees and others who witnessed the behavior.

Suttile’s lawyer Emanuele R. Cicchiello and TicketNetwork lawyer Andra B. Mazur did not return calls for comment.

At a company-sponsored Halloween party on or around Oct. 12, 2009, Suttile claims that Vaccaro approached her and made sexual advances, which included “unwanted touching of the plaintiff’s body in a sexual manner,” and “unwanted sexual comments inappropriate for a work function.”

At the same event, Vaccaro also “pushed himself against the plaintiff and grinded himself against the plaintiff and other female defendant employees while dancing. This was performed out in the open and witnessed by other defendant employees,” Suttile claims in the suit.

On Halloween day 2009, Suttile says she was out in a “social setting” when Vaccaro approached her and complimented her breasts in the presence of her boyfriend, a comment that was “unwelcome, unwanted, and made the plaintiff extremely uncomfortable.”

Suttile’s friends also heard Vaccaro repeating the comment throughout the evening, she contends in the suit.

Later that night, Suttile claims Vaccaro approached her with two male friends and requested that she and her friends go back to his house in a limousine.

“I’ve spent many a night with women from our company,” Suttile claims Vaccaro told her, adding the women “never left unsatisfied.”

Suttile claims that, “again, these comments were made out loud so that others could hear.”

On or around Dec. 9, 2009, Suttile says she volunteered to host a company-sponsored holiday party, and during the event, Suttile says Vaccaro crudely complimented her breasts in the presence of other employees.

Later that evening, Suttile says she approached TicketNetwork lawyer Natalie Carpenter and told her about Vaccaro’s unwanted advancements and comments.

According to Suttile, Carpenter said, “Yeah, he does that all the time. We have to remind him all the time that he can’t do that.”

On Dec. 11, 2009, two days after she complained to Carpenter, Suttile says she was fired from TicketNetwork.

Company officials told Suttile she was terminated for not meeting her quota of 50 sales calls a day, which they said was part of her job responsibilities, the suit says.

But Suttile claims the requirement is reserved only for sales staff, and as a marketing assistant, meeting a quota for sales calls was never a condition of her employment.

Therefore, Suttile has charged that TicketNetwork’s reason for firing her was a “pretext for sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.”

Suttile also says in the suit she had never been disciplined or warned that her job performance was an issue.

The lawsuit seeks restitution in the form back pay, reinstatement or front pay, damages for emotional distress, punitive damages including legal fees, and other relief as the court deems appropriate.

Suttile has demanded an amount “in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interests and costs.”

Prior to filing suit, Suttile made a complaint to the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, which released its jurisdiction over the matter on Nov. 23, authorizing her to commence a civil action against the company.

While employed at TicketNetwork, Suttile also worked as a correspondent for the company’s partner site, TicketNews.com, appearing in at least one video still posted online.

Vaccaro is divorced from his former wife, Lana C. Vaccaro. The divorce was finalized Sept. 23, according to court documents.

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