Jury awards $772K to woman assaulted by coffee shop boss.

Byline: Bill Cresenzo

A Mecklenburg County jury has awarded $772,275 to a woman who claimed that her former boss sexually assaulted her when she was a teen in a coffee shop's restroom, according to court documents and the woman's attorneys.

Sean Herrmann and Kevin Murphy of Herrmann & Murphy in Charlotte report that their client, Caroline Cox, had been the general manager of a coffee shop in Cornelius owned by Lewis Jewett. After taking another full-time job, Cox lost her position as GM, but continued to work at the shop part-time and lived in an apartment above another coffee shop Jewett owned.

Jewett started making inappropriate comments toward her and giving her hugs that lasted too long and then began asking her for nude photos. A few days after she turned 18, Cox came to the shop to pick up her paycheck. Jewett, who was 48, claimed he wanted to show her a remodeled bathroom. While they were in the room Jewett sexually assaulted her, Cox alleged.

She avoided the coffee shop for the next two weeks before agreeing to meet with Jewett. She recorded their conversation, in which he told her, "I am sorry I did that to you, whether it was consensual or not. It doesn't matter." Cox pressed charges against Jewett, and he was charged with forcible assault and battery, but the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office dismissed the charges.

Cox, who said she felt betrayed by the DA's decision, sued Jewett, seeking civil damages for false imprisonment, assault, and battery. Jewett represented himself at a trial that lasted two days, and the jury deliberated for about two hours on Feb. 18 before awarding Cox $322,275 in personal injury damages and $450,000 in punitive damages.

Herrmann said that Jewett admitted to asking Cox for nude pictures but denied engaging in sexual relations with her and claimed that the recorded apologies were in regards to asking for the pictures, not a sexual assault.

"It was very obvious to everyone...