A former city letter carrier has filed a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service (USPS) and an acting manager, alleging severe sexual harassment and assault. Lovette A. Miles initiated the complaint on October 18, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, and Walter Miles.
The lawsuit details a disturbing incident that occurred on October 2, 2023, when Lovette A. Miles was delivering mail as part of her duties at USPS. According to the complaint, Walter Miles, who served as Acting Manager of Customer Services Operations at USPS and was not related to Lovette Miles despite sharing a last name, approached her mail truck while she was on duty. He allegedly entered her vehicle uninvited and proceeded to sexually assault her by grabbing her buttocks and breasts without consent. The complaint states that he exposed himself to her during this encounter.
Lovette A. Miles claims that prior to this incident, Walter Miles had exhibited inappropriate behavior towards female employees at USPS but faced no disciplinary action from his superiors or USPS management. She reported the assault to her supervisor immediately after it happened but alleges that Walter Miles continued to contact her even after she requested him to stop.
In addition to detailing these events, the lawsuit accuses USPS of failing to provide a safe work environment free from sexual harassment as mandated by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiff asserts that despite previous complaints about Walter Miles' conduct towards other female employees, USPS did not take appropriate corrective measures.
Lovette A. Miles is seeking actual damages exceeding $75,000 for each count in addition to punitive damages and coverage for legal costs and attorney fees. Her claims include violations under Title VII for sexual discrimination/harassment and violations under the Illinois Gender Violence Act against both defendants.
The case is being handled by Ryan J. Mahoney of Mahoney Law Firm LLC representing Lovette A. Miles with Judge presiding over case number 1:24-cv-10803.