Tacoma Settles Sex-Harassment Suits

TACOMA - Two women who contended they were sexually harassed at the Tacoma sewer department, and one of the men whom they accused of harassment will divide a $135,000 settlement.

The City Council voted to pay Adrienne Barbon and Cynthia Goforth-Teixeira $80,000 to settle their lawsuit. Lawrence Reda will receive $55,500 to settle his lawsuit.

Councilman Dave De Forrest yesterday questioned the settlement. "Simply settling this and pushing it under the rug isn't good enough," he said. "If there's a problem, we have to correct it."

A secrecy agreement was part of the settlement, so it was not immediately known if anyone was disciplined.

According to a confidential memorandum, the city's attorneys recommended settling the case because managers failed to act quickly to resolve the complaints, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported.

Barbon and Goforth-Teixeira's lawsuit alleged that Reda leered at them and made suggestive motions and offensive noises when they were around.

Barbon also complained that Reda had posted in a work area a picture of a partially naked woman.

Barbon contends that when she threatened to take the case to the city's Human Rights Department, the picture was removed. But, she said, she was told by her supervisor not to call any government agency.

Reda countered that he had been sexually harassed. He accused Barbon of using offensive computer graphics at work and alleged that both women made vulgar remarks to him. He also said the picture that Barbon complained about was not posted publicly.

Reda said his complaints of sexual harassment were ignored while the women's were pursued.

Public Works Director Bill Pugh said department managers and employees would get more training on how to handle sexual-harassment complaints.

Barbon and Reda both still work for the city but in different offices. Goforth-Teixeira is on leave.

Reda's lawyer, Suzanne Thomas, refused comment.

Joyce Thomas, the lawyer for Barbon and Goforth-Teixeira, said she hoped the settlement would change working conditions at the department.