Home | Back

State settles with women who claimed sexual harassment Former AG office employees will each get $247,500

Share_print Print Story    |    Comments    |   

January 25, 2009

by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau chief

Columbus -- The two women whose allegations of sexual harassment started the scandal that led to former Attorney General Marc Dann's resignation have settled with the state.

Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout agreed to accept $247,500 each, which includes their attorneys fees, and both agreed to resign from the Attorney General's office. Stout left in mid-December, while Stankoski submitted her resignation Jan. 21.

In a joint statement, Attorney General Richard Cordray and Rex Elliott, attorney for Stout and Stankoski, said the settlement puts "to rest a series of events that was unbecoming of the leadership of the Attorney General's office and difficult for the two women who showed courage in turning a spotlight upon it."

They added, "Ohioans should be able to count upon ethical conduct by the individuals entrusted with conducting the people's business. By bringing to light wrongdoing and a fundamental disrespect for that public trust, Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout played an important role in creating an opportunity to restore professionalism to the Ohio Attorney General's office. We believe that what happened to them was wrong and regret the difficulties they have experienced."

Stout and Stankoski filed complaints against a manager hand-picked by Dann, alleging sexual harassment. An internal investigation substantiated the complaints and prompted the firing of two employees, the forced resignation of a third and a legislated investigation by the state's inspector general.

That report, released in late December, alleged cronyism and "hiring missteps," sexual harassment and other improper activities and wrongdoing under Dann's leadership. It also raised questions about Dann's use of campaign finances.

Dann admitted he had an affair with an underling, but he has vehemently denied any criminal wrongdoing.

The settlement is worth less than that proposed by Elliott last year.

In a letter to then-Attorney General Nancy Rogers, he asked for a "payment of $400,000 [each] to cover the horrific nature of these circumstances." It also asked that the women be transferred to comparable positions elsewhere in the Attorney General's office, provide written notice to other employees making it clear that retaliatory actions would not be tolerated and allow time off for counseling, if needed.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com. His Capital Blog is at blogs.dixcdn.com/capitalblog/.




Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed. Hudsonhubtimes.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.

Login above or Register to comment.
 0 Total Comments Home | Back