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A woman complains in a lawsuit that she was fired after speaking up about a superior's alleged crotch-scratching.

(Aimee Green/The Oregonian)

A woman who claims she was fired because she complained that a partner at her law firm kept scratching his crotch has filed a $250,000 lawsuit against the law firm and the lawyer.

Ashley Buxton began working for the firm of Shapiro & Sutherland LLC in January 2014, and as early as employee orientation she noticed attorney Kelly Sutherland "frequently using his hands to touch his crotch and genitals through his pants in the workplace," claims the lawsuit filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

"He did so habitually and obsessively in front of employees, including Ms. Buxton," claims the suit. It says Sutherland repeatedly made her feel uncomfortable with his actions.

Neither Sutherland nor a representative from the law firm returned calls from The Oregonian/OregonLive seeking comment Monday and Tuesday.

The firm has offices in Tigard and Vancouver. It specializes in foreclosures, bankruptcies, debt collection and evictions. Sutherland has been licensed to practice law in Oregon for nearly 28 years.

Buxton's suit states she complained about Sutherland to an operations director at the corporate office -- The Logs Group LLC -- and later to the corporate chief operating officer. But the suit claims Sutherland's behavior continued.

The suit also states her work as operations manager required her to frequently travel with Sutherland. The suit claims Sutherland would sometimes make comments that made Buxton feel uncomfortable, such as that she "did not need to worry" about traveling with him because they would stay in separate hotel rooms.

The suit claims that one year into Buxton's employment, she had had enough: She complained in a Jan. 20, 2015, email to James Craft, another attorney at the firm. Her email read, according to the suit:

"Quite honestly I am uncomfortable coming into the office, and (to) be around Kelly, he constantly adjusts himself in front of me, and I am tired of having to deal with it.

"...(W)hile I understand it's a delicate topic with a primarily female staff I would expect someone to take care of it and especially since I have to travel with him it's become to the point where I do not feel comfortable.

"I understand you have concerns and they're valid concerns but I cannot find myself coming back into the office until this is taken care of."

Two days later, after receiving no response, she wrote a follow-up email to Craft and also sent human resources personnel a copy, according to the suit. It read:

"Hello James ...I haven't heard back from you, will you be addressing this?"

According to the suit, "Two hours later, Mr. Craft did, in fact, address Ms. Buxton's sexual harassment complaint -- by firing her" in an email.

Portland attorney Peter Stutheit, who represents Buxton, said the case is about a lower-level employee being terminated for complaining about the inappropriate actions of a law-firm partner.

"She was disposable," Stutheit said.

Buxton is seeking $250,000 for lost income and benefits and for emotional distress.

In addition to the attorney and law firm, Buxton also is suing The Logs Group LLC. The Logs Group didn't return a call seeking comment.

Read the lawsuit here.

-- Aimee Green

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