BUFFALO, N.Y. — The attorney for the woman who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Russell Salvatore says the core of this case is environment at his Transit Road steakhouse.
"The claims are about a hostile work environment which allowed sexual harassment to be pervasive and severe," said attorney Lindy Korn. "Followed up by retaliation, after complaints and attempts to halt illegal behavior, and nothing worked."
The lawsuit against Salvatore and a manager at Russell's Steaks Chops and More was filed in Erie County Court on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the lawsuit, Salvatore allegedly began using inappropriate, sexually-motivated language with the former bartender when she was hired in 2015.
2 On Your Side asked Korn why her client filed her lawsuit after so many years of alleged abuse.
"You have to understand the culture of what happens to somebody who has been sexually harassed,' Korn said. "You have to understand that people need good jobs to live, and she was very successful at her position, and I think things were things accelerated over time."
The lawsuit alleges that in April 2023, after asking to take a photo with the woman's and a friend of his, Salvatore asked for the bartender's hand then placed her hand on his genitals.
In a statement to 2 On Your Side, Salvatore said in part that he was "mortified to even have my name associated with such nonsense."
Salvatore also said this was an extortion attempt by the former bartender and her attorney.
Korn says she is not surprised by his response.
"As the case progresses, discovery will be very important," Korn said. "That is when people's credibility gets tested."
2 On Your Side asked Korn whether or not anyone else has come forward with similar allegations, but she declined to comment citing ethical reasons.
"I think that in most cases of sexual harassment, there's a pattern, it doesn't just happen once.," Korn said. "It's about power and the abuse of power, so all of these things need to be tested and they will be."
Salvatore's full response to the allegations can be found here.