Pruvit and CEO Brian Underwood have been sued for sex discrimination and assault.

Plaintiff Clarissa Jones filed suit against Pruvit and Underwood on July 14th in Jefferson Circuit Court, Kentucky.

As per her Pruvit corporate bio, Jones had worked at Pruvit since 2019. Roles attributed to Jones at Pruvit include Marketing, Communications & Support.

Brian Underwood (right), co-founded Pruvit with Terry LaCore and Chris Harding back in 2015.

As alleged by Jones in her Complaint;

Almost immediately upon Plaintiff working for Pruvit, and continuously and incessantly throughout the entire five years Plaintiff worked for Pruvit, Underwood sexually harassed Plaintiff, including but not limited to, made sexually suggestive comments to her, asked her to have sex with him, asked her to send naked pictures of herself to him, sent naked pictures of himself to her, and purchased lingerie and bathing suits for her to wear.

On one occasion just weeks after Plaintiff began working for Pruvit, Underwood walked up to Plaintiff while she was in Pruvit’s copy room and rubbed his erect penis against her.

Underwood repeatedly asked Plaintiff to come to his house during work hours.

There was never a business reason that necessitated Plaintiff go to Underwood’s house.

Jones alleges she was punished for declining Underwood’s advances.

On at least two occasions, Defendant Underwood demoted Plaintiff, including reducing her pay and ending her bonus structure, within days of her rejecting his explicit sexual advances.

Ultimately, in October 2024 Plaintiff stated to Defendant Underwood that she needed to make more money. Defendant Underwood immediately used it as an opportunity to ask Plaintiff to come to his house and have sex with him.

Plaintiff declined.

Within days, on October 31, 2024, Pruvit fired Plaintiff.

Jones claims Underwood’s advances created a “hostile work environment”.

As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant Pruvit’s wrongful actions, Plaintiff has suffered mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation, and lost wages and benefits.

As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant Underwood’s wrongful actions, Plaintiff has suffered mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.

Across three counts, Jones is suing for

  1. sex discrimination (Pruvit. two counts) and
  2. assault (Brian Underwood, one count)

Defendant Pruvit discriminated against Plaintiff by conditioning her employment on sex and terminating her employment because of her refusal to have sex with its owner.

Defendant Underwood’s assault of Plaintiff continues to cause, and will cause, her to suffer substantial mental anguish, humiliation and damages to her personal dignity.

It should be noted Pruvit was sold off to Herbalife in March 2025. Underwood retained his role as Pruvit’s CEO.

In addition to allegations of sex harassment and assault, Underwood has been in and out of court on allegations of bullying.

Long-time business partner Michael Rutherford filed a second lawsuit against Underwood and Pruvit in June 2024.

Unfortunately Kentucky makes it difficult for members of the public to access case information. As such BehindMLM will be unable to provide our usual standard of case coverage.

Others are tracking the case though and, if we receive any further updates, I’ll make note of them below.