AUGUSTA -- The Maine Human Rights Commission on Monday sided with a woman who claimed she was fired from a Waterville business less than a week after complaining that her boss made unwelcome sexual advances.

An investigator with the commission recommended a finding of reasonable grounds to believe that Nicole A. Brown, of China, was subject to discrimination on the basis of sex by Get Mobile, of Waterville.

The commission upheld the finding in a vote Monday at the start of its regular meeting at the Senator Inn in Augusta.

No oral arguments were offered in the case.

Commission findings are not law but may become grounds for lawsuits.

According to a report by field investigator Robert Beauchesne, Brown was hired in April 2006 as office manager for Get Mobile, an independent wireless telephone dealer for T-Mobile, and then fired on July 12, 2006.

Brown told the investigator her employer subjected her to "unwelcome and offensive physical contact and comments."

The Get Mobile owner, identified in the report as "EL," told the investigator Brown was fired "for insubordination, inappropriate work attire, coarse language and tardiness."

He also denied misconduct occurred and said Brown raised claims about sexual harassment only after being fired.

The owner was represented by attorney Phillip Johnson.

After a fact-finding conference, written submissions and telephone interviews, Beauchesne concluded that none of the reasons the employer provided "either individually, or even in aggregate, appear to provide a more likely explanation for the complainant's discharge other than the reason asserted by her, retaliation for complaining to the sole owner, Mr. EL, only a week earlier about his inappropriate sexual comments and contact."

The investigator recommended negotiations in an attempt to resolve the complaint.

Johnson did not return a call for comment made Monday morning.

A published phone number for the Get Mobile business had been disconnected, and a second phone number had a busy signal.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com