Attorneys: Harassment Suit Against Councilman's Staffer Too Vague
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A sexual harassment suit filed by a former field deputy to Councilman Mitch Englander targeting the lawmaker's chief of staff is too vague, according to the City Attorney's Office.
KNX 1070's Jan Stevens reports recently-filed court papers argued the woman doesn't give specific dates of her allegations.
Attorneys: Harassment Suit Against Councilman's Staffer Too Vague
The woman, identified in her lawsuit as "Jane Doe," sued the city and Englander Chief of Staff John Lee on Sept. 16, alleging she was forced to quit her job over alleged misconduct, including discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.
The complaint alleges Lee subjected the woman to repeated "inappropriate and offensive jokes and comments of a sexual nature." She also maintains she was denied a chance to apply for a job as a public safety deputy because she was not a white man.
But attorneys with the City Attorney's Office argue that the language used in the suit makes it impossible for city lawyers to determine if the complaints she filed were done within one year of the alleged acts, which is required by law.
They also argued that the plaintiff should not be allowed to pursue her case anonymously, according to defense court papers.
A hearing is schedule for April 22.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
