Wednesday, May 15, 2002
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Wednesday, May 15, 2002 |
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Fayetteville wins harassment suit Federal judge throws out former employee's claims By MONROE
ROARK
A former Fayetteville city employee's legal action against the city in a two-year-old sexual harassment case has apparently ended at the federal level. According to a statement released Monday by the city, U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Christopher Hagy issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of the city on all counts of former Main Street director Sherri Anderson's complaint. Anderson filed a formal complaint in January of 2000 against then city manager Michael Bryant, alleging that Bryant had sexually harassed her and created a hostile working environment. A subsequent investigation by McDonough lawyer Greg Futch was cut short Feb. 17 when Bryant signed a separation agreement with the city, approved by City Council the night before. The city agreed to end its investigation, and Bryant agreed to resign and not to sue the city. In March of that year, Anderson's attorney sent a letter to the city offering to forego litigation for a $125,000 out-of-court settlement. Anderson filed her claims in U.S. Magistrate Court Oct. 6, 2000, according to the city's statement. "The city is elated by this decision," said Mayor Kenneth Steele. "We never believed that there was any validity to these counts and it is unfortunate that we had to expend taxpayer funds to defend charges that were unfounded, in our opinion. "I believe the fact that Judge Hagy ruled in our favor on all counts demonstrates that these allegations were frivolous and without merit," Steele added. "This decision should bring closure to this issue." Anderson's complaint contained several counts relating to workplace harassment, City Manager Joe Morton said Tuesday. A mediation process took place in the spring of 2000, as required by federal law before any lawsuit could be filed, he added, and the city never paid Anderson any kind of settlement relating to her case.
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