Chief Financial Officer Gail Busbey Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit For $93,000
Decatur Chief Financial Officer Gail Busbey filed a sexual harassment against the city alleging Mayor Don Stanford made inappropriate comments and unwanted physical contact with her. Busbey is also alleging retaliation because she alleges Stanford attempted to terminate her employment after she filed a complaint about Stanford with the director of personnel Ken Smith.
Busbey settled the sexual harassment lawsuit for $93,000 and agreed to retire as part of the settlement. However, a member of the city council made statements about Busbey and now she is suing seeking over one million in damages for false light and breach of the agreement. In sexual harassment cases there is usually a confidentiality clause and also a clause about not speaking negatively about either party. You can see the problems that occur when one party talks about the other party.
“You hear rumors, but I feel like if it was something that was relevant that I needed to know about, someone would have presented it to me,” Hammon said.
It is sometimes very difficult to continue working for a company or agency after you file a sexual harassment or retaliation claim against them. The work environment becomes ackward at best and sometimes it is in the interest of both parties to severe the employment relationship. Once a settlement is paid, both parties should just move on with their lives and put the past behind them. This case illustrates the problems that can occur when that doesn't happen.
