Tuesday, December 23, 1997
Harassment lawsuit to be tried in federal court
A sexual harassment lawsuit against Justice of the Peace Sam
Matta and Taylor County will be tried in Abilene federal court.
Attorneys representing the county on Monday filed notice the
suit would be removed from the 42nd State District Court where
it was filed last month.
Mary Landeros, a former court clerk, alleges the judge sexually
harassed her from August 1995 through November 1996 as she worked
in his office. Her lawsuit offered no details of the alleged harassment.
She is seeking $285,000 in damages.
Landeros charges the county "knew or should have known"
about the behavior, claiming Matta had harassed other women employees.
Matta has denied the accusations, calling the suit a "political
plot." The Republican justice is seeking a fifth term in
office.
In its response to the suit, also filed Monday, the county
denied any employment discrimination or knowing of alleged sexual
harassment by Matta.
As is their prerogative, defendants typically demand that workplace
discrimination suits filed in state courts be removed and tried
in federal courts. Such suits involve issues of federal law.
Claudia Clinton, one of Landeros' attorneys, said Monday she
expected the removal. She declined to say why she didn't file
the suit in federal court.
Landeros' lawsuit could be tried as soon as September.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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