FIRED EMPLOYEE SUES FEDERAL MINING OFFICIAL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 22, 1993                   TAG: 9301220137
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BIG STONE GAP                                LENGTH: Short
FIRED EMPLOYEE SUES FEDERAL MINING OFFICIAL
A federal mining official fired for alleged sexual harassment filed a $3.5 million lawsuit Thursday against the man who dismissed him.
Nickie Brewer, former Pikeville, Ky., subdistrict manager for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Big Stone Gap. The suit names Jesse Cole, district manager in Pikeville.
Cole fired Brewer May 8, 1992, after four female employees complained that Brewer had touched them and made sexual innuendos toward them. One of those women was Sandra Barber, of Mayking in Letcher County, Ky., whose federal sexual harassment suit against Brewer is pending.
In his suit, Brewer, of Wise, claims that Cole was "determined to get rid of" him because Cole was "aware that his own boss had high respect and regard" for Brewer. The suit claims Cole told several employees in May 1991 that Brewer "had to go."
Brewer claims Cole used the women's allegations as an excuse to "conduct a vendetta and vicious investigation" against him.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB