'Cougar' boss taken to court over sexual harassment charges

A “cougar” boss who hired a younger man she fell in love with has been charged with sexual harassment after she sacked him.

New York business woman Joanne Del Prete-Rosten, 52, met 39-year-old Daniel Coyle at a Pennsylvania racetrack three years ago, the NY Post reports.

The pair met inside one of the performance cars at the track and within two weeks they had sex twice, Coyle's sexual-harassment lawsuit states.

She offered him a job as chief operating officer of her race-car inspired woman's clothing business.

When he arrived to start his new job in New York City he discovered she was married to the company executive.

He instantly ended their affair, he claims.

Coyle claims she forced her way into his room, which he shared with two colleagues on a business trip.

"Noticeably intoxicated and wearing only her underwear … (she) jumped into the bed … (and) grabbed Mr Coyle's genitals," the suit claims.

Another incident allegedly happened at a night club when Coyle was dancing with a woman and Del Prete-Rosten "aggressively pushed him out of the way and kissed this woman … to demonstrate her power over Mr Coyle".

Del Prete-Rosten denies she had a relationship with Coyle and said the allegations were "a bunch of lies".

Coyle claims he put up the with abuse to secure a job and only filed the complaint after he was fired when Del Prete-Rosten told him the company was closing down.

Not long after his departure, she unveiled a new fashion collection and purchased a Lamborghini to market the clothing nationally, Coyle alleged.