INDIANAPOLIS – A former mechanic for Sarah Fisher/Hartman Racing is suing the team, alleging that he was fired after complaining about being sexually harassed by a crewmate.
Scotty Merryman of Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb, alleges that the team allowed another crewmember to physically and verbally sexually harass him while he was employed from January 2011 to July 2012. Merryman accuses the team of violating federal laws against sex discrimination, religion discrimination and retaliation.
The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Indianapolis federal court, also includes claims of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and wrongful discharge based on Indiana law.
The team referred requests for comment to its law firm, which didn't return a message seeking comment Tuesday.
The lawsuit states that the other man knew Merryman was a Christian and taunted him about his sex life.
According to court documents, the crewmate asked Merryman why he quoted Bible verses on his Facebook page, inquired about his sex life and taunted him when he refused to discuss it. The man also implied that Merryman was a sexual predator when Merryman began dating a woman at his church, the lawsuit alleges.
The other man also exposed himself to Merryman in the nude and touched him sexually, according to the suit.
Merryman said that after he complained to management, he was first told to discuss the issue with his crewmate but was later fired. Merryman said he was told he was fired due to the "chemistry" between him and the other man.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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