Jared Fogle's Ex-Wife Files Suit, Says Subway Knew His 'Depravities and Failed to Act'

Fogle, who is in prison, worked with Subway from 2000 to 2015.

ByABC News
October 24, 2016, 5:35 PM

— -- The ex-wife of former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle filed a lawsuit today against the sandwich chain, claiming the company knew of Fogle's "depravities and failed to act."

Fogle's ex-wife Katie McLaughlin said she filed the suit to seek unspecified damages and because she has "questions to which I have no other way to get answers."

"What did Subway know and when did they know it?" she read from a statement today at a press conference. "What investigations, if any, did they conduct? Did they ever notify the authorities?"

Fogle, who worked with Subway from 2000 to 2015, is currently in federal prison after pleading guilty to in November of 2015 to charges of possessing child pornography and traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He is serving 15 years.

McLaughlin said in a statement today, "When the FBI banged on my door on July 7th, 2015, I thought it was the worst day of my life. I had no idea that the nightmare was just beginning."

She maintains that, had Subway warned her of Fogle's propensities, she would have never married him. She said she learned the scope of his activities over the course of the investigation.

"Finding out that your husband and the father of your children is a child predator, and knowing that his job involved him visiting schools on a regular basis is devastating," she said, adding, "to the victims of my ex-husband, you are never far from my thoughts and prayers."

The complaint, filed in Indiana with the Hamilton County Superior Court, cites several instances where McLoughlin claims Subway was told of alleged wrong-doing by Fogle, dating back to four years before she met him, that she claims Subway failed to act upon. "Upon information and belief, Subway did not report any of the allegations to law enforcement," the suit says.

"On at least three occasions during Jared's tenure with Subway, Subway received reports regarding Jared's sexual interest in and activity with children," the lawsuit claims, "With two of those reports, Subway responded by sending a public relations employee to ask Jared about the allegations. With the third report, Subway admitted the complaint was 'not properly escalated or acted upon.'"

McLaughlin, who is a former elementary school special ed teacher, claims that the company allowed Fogle to continue his work as a spokesperson, which brought him in contact with many children.

"Despite knowing of Jared's sexual interest in children and the then-alleged sexual acts he committed with them, Subway continued to promote their star spokesman," the suit says. "In particular, Subway launched multiple campaigns that required Jared to visit elementary schools around the country."

McLaughlin said Subway also marketed Fogle as a "family man" and used McLaughlin and her children's likenesses without her consent.

She is not currently receiving any compensation from the company or support for the former couple's children, her attorneys told ABC News.

A Subway spokesperson said today, "As this is pending legal action, we cannot provide comment."

ABC News' Michael DelMoro and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.