Story Created:
Mar 4, 2010 at 12:12 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 4, 2010 at 12:12 PM PST
NORWALK — A third lawsuit in the past year has been filed in Norwalk Superior Court alleging sexual harassment against a city official and the city in general.
Orange County attorney William Crosby, who handled the first two suits, told The Wave Tuesday that the latest suit alleges sexual harassment against City Councilman Rick Ramirez plus threats, a physical attack and verbal abuse by staff members of a female employee.
The case involves Melody Baca, employed at the Norwalk Senior Center as a senior service coordinator starting in August 2002; and makes mention of Councilman Jesse Luera and Social Services Director Tak Hamabata, Crosby said.
The alleged remarks and actions by Ramirez began in February 2003, the suit states.
Ramirez, in public comments at the City Council meeting Tuesday night, denied accusations in the suit that he made sexually oriented, “inappropriate and unwelcome comments” to Baca both in person and by telephone, that he at one time fondled her and told her “let’s have an affair.”
“It’s all false and slanderous. It did not take place. This is a frivolous and opportunistic suit,” Ramirez said.
Luera is mentioned for alleged threats against Baca while Hamabata is accused of not preventing staff at the Senior Center from making verbal and physical attacks against her and harassing her concerning actions as a social service superintendent, and retaliation for complaining.
Hamabata, whose department oversees the center, was told of the alleged threats against her in March 2009, Baca says in the suit.
Crosby, of the firm Barnes, Fitzgerald and Crosby in Irvine, said Baca made the allegations to him May 30 and a claim was filed with the city last July. That claim was rejected by the city.
Last spring he obtained a $500,000 settlement for former Parks and Recreation Director Toni Tucker, who had alleged sexual harassment by Councilman Mike Mendez.
Crosby is currently representing Cynthia Sanchez, a former public safety officer, in a sexual harassment suit against Luera, which is slated for a May 26 trial.
Luera has said he is innocent. Mendez said he settled the suit only to save the city the cost of trying the case.
Mendez was and Luera and Ramirez will be represented by attorneys from the Joint Power Insurance Association, of which Norwalk is a member.
City Manager Ernie Garcia, in remarks made earlier in the Tuesday meeting concerning finances, said he is protesting actions of the association to raise Norwalk’s membership dues.
Activists Jerry Ori, in remarks late Tuesday during the audience participation part of the agenda, said the higher fees may be the result of the three lawsuits.
“What is the city doing about this?” asked Ori concerning the charges of sexual harassment, verbal and physical abuse.
The city has a risk manager,” Ori noted, who should take steps to educate employees about such matters and the city should have a strict policy concerning such actions.
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