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Trial of EEOC’s sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of band singer begins today
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Posted on Dec 12 2011
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
The jury trial of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a band singer who claimed that a then restaurant manager of a hotel made sexual advances on her, will commence today, Monday, in the U.S. District Court for the NMI.
The jury selection in EEOC’s lawsuit against Asia Pacific Hotels Inc., operator of the Saipan Grand Hotel, is expected to begin at 9am.
The former restaurant manager will not testify in court, but his deposition was filed in court.
In the deposition, the former manager, who is now based in the Philippines, confessed he had engaged in a consensual relationship with the band singer.
The former manager disclosed, among other things, that the singer, who was drunk at the time, invited him to her room.
He was arrested, but was never charged. The singer eventually became the girlfriend of a police officer, who was among those who reportedly investigated the case.
Attorneys Steven Pixley and Vincent J. Seman are representing Asia Pacific Hotels Inc.
Trial attorneys Nancy Griffiths and Derek Li are counsels for EEOC.
EEOC alleged that defendants Asia Pacific Hotels Inc., Tan Holdings, and other co-defendants allowed the singer to be subjected to sexual harassment that was severe enough to create a hostile, abusive work environment.
EEOC alleged that the hotel’s restaurant manager subjected the singer to unwelcome touching of a sexual nature.
Pixley had earlier described the lawsuit as frivolous as he pointed out that Asia Pacific has long standing policies prohibiting sexual harassment.
Pixley said following the management’s investigation, the manager was immediately terminated consistent with the standing policies.
Pixley vowed to “vigorously defend this frivolous litigation in a court of law.”
