OWENSVILLE —A Hermann woman is seeking over $25,000 in damages from Jahabow LLC claiming the company denied her legally required accommodations to pump breast milk, subjected her to workplace harassment and ultimately terminated her employment in discrimination.

In the first civil case filed in Gasconade County in 2026, Jahabow LLC of St. Louis, operating in Owensville, is accused by Brittyn Mae Wood of violating multiple employment laws. The petition includes three separate counts: sex discrimination and retaliation under the Missouri Human Rights Act, violations of the federal PUMP Act and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Wood advised the court through the petition filed Thursday that after giving birth July 1, 2024, she returned to a “hostile” work environment Sept. 15 of the same year. She claims Jahabow LLC failed to provide her with an adequate lactation space, instead advising her to use a room that served as a first aid and supply room neither private nor “free from intrusion” as required by the FLSA. She also claims other employees were told to observe her, record the amount of time she spent pumping and directed to enter the room while she was doing so.

According to the petition, due to her gender and need to express breast milk, Wood was also exposed to verbal harassment by other employees when walking past their workstations.

Her employment was terminated on March 21, 2025, with the petition citing her sex and need to express breast milk as motivating factors in the company’s decision.

Wood filed a discrimination charge with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on May 15.

She was given the state-required Notice of Right to Sue by the MCHR on Nov. 20, 2025, which cited a two-year statute of limitations from the date the incident allegedly occurred and a requirement to file within 90 days of the notice. She was provided a Right to Sue by the EEOC on Dec. 16, 2025, which carries a separate 90-day filing window and is part of the federal process for pursuing employment discrimination claims.

Jahabow LLC has been granted 30 days from Jan. 9 to file their pleading with the court. Judge Ryan Hellfrich is presiding. Wood is represented by Jonathan Doss of Roberts, Wooten & Zimmer LLC of Hillsboro.