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[img]2730|right|Bob Apodaca||no_popup[/img]We have exclusively obtained the settlement documents related to the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former female employee with the Central Basin Municipal Water District against Director Robert (Bob) Apodaca that resulted in a massive $670,000 payout for the victim.
Sigrid Lopez, who worked as a public outreach director with the Central Basin Municipal Water District, filed the sexual battery lawsuit against Mr. Apodaca in 2012. She alleged, among other things, that her contract was not renewed because she refused Mr. Apodaca’s sexual advances.
We were the first newspaper to uncover and report about the lawsuit. Since then, several other news agencies, radio talk shows, and news broadcasts have reported on the coverage.
Westlake Village-based law firm Sottile-Baltaxe filed the 15-page complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court back in November on behalf of Ms. Lopez, who worked for the embroiled public agency for just six months in 2012.
In the lawsuit, Ms. Lopez alleged that Mr. Apodaca began making lewd comments shortly after she was hired. Ms. Lopez claims that Mr. Apodaca would speak to her in person or contact her via phone asking her, “who do you (blank?),” telling her “he would not mind laying into her.” She said he had boasted about “tag teaming” women at conferences he attended.
The suit requested damages in eight different areas, the most serious of which include assault, battery, and sexual battery. Ms. Lopez alleged that Mr. Apodaca engaged in a series of inappropriate actions, including trying to kiss her and attempting to stroke her hands and thighs. These actions required Ms. Lopez to seek medical attention, which she continues to this day. The lawsuit did not specify her injury.
Ms. Lopez claims that she is still suffering from mental anguish because of her ordeal.
Ms. Lopez’s lawsuit says she repeatedly reported the sexual harassment to the Board, the upper management, and the general council of the Central Basin Metropolitan Water District but no action was taken, and the harassment was allowed to continue. Ms. Lopez alleges that Mr. Apodaca retaliated by not renewing her contract.
The settlement was reached on June 10.
In the settlement, Mr. Apodaca and Central Basin Water District did not admit “guilt,” and Ms. Lopez has agreed not to pursue additional legal action against the agency.
Mr. Apodaca has become a lightning rod for controversy over the past several years as an elected member of the five-director agency that is the focal point of a massive criminal probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Dept. of Justice and several other agencies.
We were the first news agency to exclusively report on the details of the criminal probe that already has resulted in the arrest of state Sen. Ronald Calderon and former Assemblyman Thomas Calderon. Both are facing several years in federal prison if found guilty. Their trial is expected to begin in late November.
Mr. Apodaca is fighting for his political life as a director at Central Basin. He is facing long odds of being reelected in November. Mr. Apodaca’s main opponent is business executive Tom Malkasian, who has the support of dozens of area elected officials and community leaders, including County Supervisor Don Knabe and former Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. Also running is La Mirada businessperson Noel Jamies, and James Becerra who lists his occupation as a college professor and a resident of Whittier.
The reporters may be contacted at http://www.loscerritosnews.net/2014/09/03/documents-confirm-central-basin-water-director-apodacas-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-settled-for-670000/
