HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – A Harrisonburg woman is suing a Shenandoah County poultry company after she was fired last year.

According to the 19-page federal lawsuit that was filed yesterday in US District Court in Harrisonburg, Tonia Cortes had been employed at New Market Poultry LLC for nearly a year when she was terminated in August of 2023.

Cortes, 36, claimed she was fired after she refused to enter into a personal relationship with the general manager.

In January, she filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Cortes received a charge of discrimination against the defendant in late July and was advised that she had 90 days to institute her suit under Title VII.

She is seeking, among other things, back pay as well as compensatory and punitive damages.