BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County assistant prosecutor has filed a civil lawsuit against her former boss, Benjamin Hatfield, who resigned his position as prosecutor in October 2024.
The assistant prosecutor worked for Hatfield starting in July 2023 and the lawsuit documents complaints about his behavior, which alleges sexual harassment, threats, gender discrimination, creation of a hostile work environment, and conspiracy, among other complaints.
Other defendants in the civil suit include members of the Raleigh County Commission, who, the lawsuit alleges, knew about the situation in the prosecutor’s office but did not intervene.
The Commission also failed to provide the plaintiff a human resources department or to train supervisors and staff in the recognition and prevention of sexual harassment and hostile work environments.
The plaintiff also said employees were left to fend for themselves and that would remain the situation until after the Commission defendants were aware of impending actions last year.
Hatfield resigned after various investigations were launched into the workplace complaints.
Members of the Commission recently released a statement saying they did everything they were required to do during this time to handle the situation.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Raleigh County Circuit Court. This is one of several similar civil lawsuits filed against Hatfield and related to his conduct in the workplace.
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