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May 21, 2023 | 5:10 p.m
A technician in England tried to sue her former boss after apparently believing the email abbreviations he used, such as ‘xx’ and ‘???’, were codes indicating a sexual relationship.
Karina Gasparova, an IT worker at “paperless global trade management” firm essDOCS, filed a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against her boss Alexander Goulandris, detailing alleged misconduct from 2019, according to the Independent.
A judge dismissed the case after an employment tribunal at London’s Central Court heard Gasparova’s claims.
The IT worker claimed that Goulandris’ use of “xx” in emails to her were attempts to kiss her, “yy” was a code for sexual contact, and “???” was coded language in which to ask was “when she would be ready” to enter into a sexual relationship.
Gasparova, representing herself, cited an email as proof of her claims, arguing that it showed Goulandris’ alleged desire to “enter into sexual activity”.
“Could you please complete the following: The solution we are currently using by xx Agris companies and yy barge lines on south-north corn loads is flowing in the ???? Waterways,” Goulandris wrote in the email to Gasparova, according to the BBC, citing evidence heard in court. “Also, can you remind me what the balance sheet of the rollout will be and what the approximate timing will be. Thanks.”
Karina Gasparova, an IT worker at essDOCS, a “paperless global trade management” company, filed a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against her boss, Shutterstock
The court said the email was a “genuine request for information” and did not imply that Goulandris wanted a sexual relationship.
Gasparova also claimed that when Goulandris changed a filename to his initials “AJG,” the acronym actually stood for “A Jumbo Genital,” and that one day he touched her hand while reaching for a computer mouse. She also argued that Goulandris told her in a “seductive voice” to “have a nice evening” and that he “stared” at her and allegedly touched her leg under a table in an incident in November 2019.
The court ruled that the 2019 incident was “harmless” and accidental.
A judge dismissed the case after an employment tribunal at London’s Central Court heard Gasparova’s claims. Shutterstock
The judge dismissed the case, ruling that Gasparova had “a distorted perception of everyday events” and had “shown a tendency to make extraordinary allegations without evidence,” according to the BBC.
Gasparova told the court she told the company’s bosses that Goulandris treated her badly because she “refused his advances.”
Gasparova, who joined the company in 2019, filed a formal complaint letter against Goulandris over the alleged incidents in April 2021. According to the outlet, she resigned after the complaint was dismissed.
Gasparova was ordered to pay essDOCS £5,000, about $6,200, to help cover costs.
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