Usually when you hear about a sexual harassment case in the workplace, it’s a woman accusing a male co-worker. This is not the case for Manhattan fashion designer, Joanne Del Prete-Rosten, 52. Her former employee, Daniel Coyle, 39 is accusing Del Prete-Rosten of firing him after he turned down her sexual advances.
The two allegedly met at a special event for exotic car collectors on the NASCAR track at Pocono Raceway in Pennslyvania. Shortly after their meeting, Del Prete-Rosten and Coyle quickly became an item. Del Prete-Rosten then hired Coyle to be the Chief Operating Officer of her clothing company, Canto NYC. In exchange for a reduced salary, Coyle agreed to a 10 percent ownership in her business.
When Coyle arrived to work at the Manhattan based store, however, he was in for a huge surprise. Not only was she married, but her husband was also an executive at her company.
During his employment, Coyle claims that Del Prete-Rosten acted inappropriately towards him. Some of these allegations include:
Del Prete-Rosten denies all of Coyle’s allegations and stands firm that she never had a romantic relationship with Coyle. Del Prete-Rosten’s lawyer, Jonathan Sack, even claims that Coyle’s allegations were already dismissed by the state Division of Human Rights.
Regardless of whether or not the allegations are false, the way that Coyle was let go seems fishy. Coyle complained to Del Prete-Rosten about the vulgar conduct and was promptly let go. Del Prete-Rosten fired him on the basis that her company was going out of business, however, shortly after Coye’s dismissal, Del Prete-Rosten released a spring and summer collection and bought herself a new Lamborghini.
What do you think of these allegations?