Hews Media Group-Community News has exclusively learned of a sexual harassment complaint filed by former Water Replenishment District Director Lynn Dymally against Albert Robles, a current director who recently became the mayor of Carson.
The 11-page complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Ms. Dymally’s attorney Jason Buccat, based out of Culver City, slams Mr. Robles with sexual battery (Civil Code 1708.5), harassment (Civil Code 51.9), gender violence (Civil Code 52.4), and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Sexual battery is when “he/she acts with the intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact with an intimate part of another, and a sexually offensive contact with that person directly or indirectly results.”
One is liable for sexual harassment when there is a business, service, or professional relationship between the plaintiff and defendant.
Gender violence is described in the Code as a physical intrusion or physical invasion of a sexual nature under coercive conditions.
The complaint named 10 “Doe’s.”
The incident occurred in November 2013 at the American Leaders Water Conference in Washington, D.C.
According to the complaint, Ms. Dymally began feeling uncomfortable when they checked into the hotel and Mr. Robles had ordered adjoining rooms with a common door.
“Early morning on Nov. 3, 2013,” according to the complaint, “Dymally was returning to her room after dinner with Robles and others when Robles forced himself onto Dymally so hard that it pushed her back into her room and onto the bed. Robles began to grope Dymally and proceeded to rip her clothes off. Dymally attempted to stop him. However, Robles was too strong and proceeded to get on top of her and tried to have intercourse with her.”
Ms. Dymally claimed that Mr. Robles passed out after he tried to force himself onto her. She was able to escape, showered and went on to attend the conference that morning.
The night of Nov. 3, Mr. Robles once again “attempted to touch Dymally in a sexual manner,” she charges. “But this time she was able to thwart his advances.”
The complaint alleges that once they returned from the conference, Mr. Robles continued to harass Ms. Dymally at meetings of the Water Replenishment District.
When we contacted Ms. Dymally, she said that “as a lifelong community leader and role model, I would be remiss if I did not stand up against the injustice of sexual assault and harassment women encounter in the workplace.
“It saddens me even more,” she said, “that a man who once worked for and with me and had the privilege of being mentored by my father, the Hon. Mervyn M. Dymally, a great defender of women’s rights, would have such a lack of respect for women.
“My dad would be heart broken by Albert’s transgressions,” Ms. Dymally said. “He would encourage me to stand up for women and for myself.
“Albert Robles has become a despicable person, and a public servant who lacks the basic principles of integrity and respect for others.
“Mayor Robles must be held accountable for his egregious behavior against me and any other woman he has violated.
“He owes not only me but his mother, sister, wife and daughter a public apology along with sincere atonement.”
Ms. Dymally characterized Mr. Robles as a detriment to the public’s best interest, a menace to society.” She said he has disgraced himself.
The complaint asks for a jury trial and for compensatory as well as punitive damages.
Texts to Mayor Robles were not returned.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net