LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Scandal-plagued former USC
Athletic Director, Mike Garrett,
within days of starting his new position as Athletic Director at
California State University, Los
Angeles, sexually harassed younger female employees, alleges
a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Cal State LA
allegedly refused to take action and instead retaliated against
Senior Associate Athletic Director Dr. Sheila Hudson, represented by Abrolat Law pc,
when she reported Garrett's sexual harassment and Cal State LA's
gender discrimination. Retaliation included Garrett confining Dr.
Hudson in an office while attempting to bully her into revealing
the names of women who complained and threatening to transfer her
to another campus department, the suit alleges.
Dr. Hudson is a track and field Olympian from Sacramento and was a 4-time national triple
jump champion while at UC Berkeley. Cal State LA hired Dr. Hudson
in 2002. Cal State LA promoted Hudson to Associate Athletic
Director by 2008. In January 2016, in
violation of Cal State LA's own posting requirements, Cal State did not provide the presumptive Athletic
Director, Dr. Hudson, or others with the opportunity to apply for
the Athletic Director's position. Instead, the University actively
recruited and hired controversial figure Mike Garrett as its Athletic Director, the
lawsuit alleges.
According to the suit, upon hire, Garrett called the female
employees working under him, including Dr. Hudson, "Babe,"
"Sweetheart," "Love," and "Legs." Garrett allegedly told at least
one student employee, "I love you" and "I could kiss you." The
University's Human Resources department justified Garrett's conduct
and warned Dr. Hudson against voicing her complaints, alleges the
lawsuit.
Dr. Hudson complained to University administrators about various
gender and Title IX concerns, including gender pay inequity at the
University. Cal State LA has paid virtually all female employees in
the Athletics Department, including Dr. Hudson, less than their
male counterparts in substantially similar positions, reports the
suit. Dr. Hudson provided a pay equity report to correct these and
other Title IX violations, but Cal State LA is claimed to have
ignored the disparities, the lawsuit alleges. Dr. Hudson filed the
lawsuit as a last resort to correct the pay inequity and to
eradicate sexual harassment and gender discrimination from the
University, according to claims.
The Lawsuit further alleges that Cal State LA again ignored its
own hiring policies when it appointed Garrett's son, Daniel Garrett, as Assistant Athletic Director
in January 2016, and when
Daryl Gross of Syracuse University scandal fame was provided a
contract guaranteeing four years of employment in July 2016 to replace Garrett as Athletic Director
after just six months on the job.
"When Garrett and Gross were handed the Athletics Director
position without allowing me or other highly qualified women to
even apply for the job, I believe this to be an affront to women,"
Dr. Hudson said. "When I first brought forth my concerns about
harassment and gender discrimination, I did so alone and quietly,
using the University's internal processes. But it quickly became
clear to me that these disturbing and discriminatory practices
would continue as long as this remained behind closed doors. I
believe the best way to bring about positive change is to stand up
and speak the truth out loud, even if you're afraid. That's what
I'm doing now."
Anyone with information relevant to action is encouraged to
call: 866-884-4228
Contact: Abrolat Law pc
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/olympians-lawsuit-claims-sexual-harassment-and-gender-discrimination-involving-former-usc-and-cal-state-la-athletic-director-mike-garrett-300320208.html
SOURCE Abrolat Law pc