A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging severe workplace misconduct. On February 26, 2026, Sheena Cousins filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Smith Valley Foods, LLC. The complaint accuses the company of employment discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Sheena Cousins, who is representing herself in this legal battle, claims that during her tenure at Smith Valley Foods as an Administrative Assistant beginning May 6, 2023, she was subjected to repeated sexual harassment by two warehouse employees. According to the complaint, these incidents included explicit sexual remarks and unwanted physical contact from employees Jergens Pena and another identified only as Chris. Cousins reported these behaviors to her supervisor and Defendant’s principal, Hayder N. Sammarraie (referred to as Sam), but alleges that her complaints were dismissed and she was labeled a “serial complainer.” Despite being elevated to a supervisory role in October 2023, Cousins claims that the harassment continued unabated.
The complaint further details how after reporting these incidents, Cousins faced retaliatory actions from Smith Valley Foods. These included increased scrutiny at work, removal of her supervisory duties, reassignment to less desirable tasks within the warehouse environment, and threats involving one of her harassers being reinstated if she did not comply with new assignments. This intimidation tactic allegedly aimed to silence any further complaints from Cousins regarding workplace misconduct.
In January 2024, Cousins experienced a medical emergency which she promptly communicated to her employer along with necessary documentation. However, due to an incorrect human resources contact number provided by Smith Valley Foods, her communications went undelivered. Subsequently, on January 10th of that year, she was terminated for alleged job abandonment—a claim she disputes with evidence of documented attempts to notify management about her absence.
Cousins is seeking various forms of relief from the court including back pay and front pay for lost wages and benefits; compensatory damages for emotional distress; punitive damages; costs associated with litigation; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. She asserts that Smith Valley Foods’ conduct was willful and demonstrated a conscious disregard for her federally protected rights under Title VII.
Representing herself pro se in this case is Sheena Cousins. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-01610-UA before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Source: 126cv01610_Sheena_Cousins_v_Smith_Valley_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
