Woman with fear of dolls sues boss after terrifying office prank left her with PTSD
A woman is suing her employer, claiming her boss intentionally placed a Chucky doll on her chair despite knowing she has a phobia of dolls.
The lawsuit filed by Debra Jones in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina alleges the incident caused her emotional distress and created a hostile work environment.
Jones was already diagnosed with major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, autoimmune disorder and vitiligo when she was hired by Truist as a full-time relationship banker in April 2024, the court documents allege.
She claims she experienced discrimination and retaliation due to these conditions, and claims the Chucky doll incident led to a PTSD diagnosis.
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In June 2024 during her final week of training, Jones says her manager at the time placed a Chucky doll in her chair.
She says her boss ‘was aware of her fear of dolls and how her fear of dolls negatively affect her disabilities, as Plaintiff had shared this with’ her manager ‘when he had invited Plaintiff to his home for a team cookout'.
When the accused saw how Jones reacted, he allegedly laughed. Jones said she sought help from a medical provider and was placed on medical leave for eight weeks.
When she returned to work in August 2024, she was assigned a new manager who was aware of the Chucky incident and moved her to a different office.
However Jones alleges that she faced mockery at the bank and was subjected to unequal treatment related to her job. She had an accommodation to leave work until 3pm three times a week to seek treatment linked to ‘flare-ups that started as a result of the Chucky doll incident’, however she was told she would have to leave at 4pm.
Jones said she suffered panic attacks and was eventually forced out of her job.
She is now seeking a jury trial.
UNILAD has contacted Truist for comment.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by an event that causes extreme stress, according to Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the terrifying event. Some people may experience trouble sleeping or concentrating, as well as irritability, or physical reactions such as sweating, rapid breathing or shaking.
Symptoms can vary in how severe they are and you may seek help from a healthcare or mental health professional.
Who is Chucky?
The killer doll in the long-running Child's Play franchise is named Chucky.
He first appeared in the horror film Child’s Play, which introduces him as a children's doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer following a voodoo ritual.
He's since appeared in seven films, in which he kills more than 50 people, and has also spawned a TV series too.
Topics: US News
Gregory Robinson