California taxpayers can pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former state worker who alleged that Treasurer Fiona Ma, who’s now working for lieutenant governor, sexually harassed her.
The previous worker, Judith Blackwell, labored beneath Ma as the manager director of the California Tax Credit score Allocation Committee. Blackwell filed the lawsuit in 2021 in Sacramento County Superior Courtroom after she was fired.
The criticism alleged that Ma supplied to let Blackwell keep in resort rooms, and later at an Airbnb, in Sacramento with Ma and her chief of employees to keep away from an hourlong commute residence after darkish. The lawsuit mentioned that Ma repeatedly uncovered her “naked rear finish” to Blackwell within the resort room, and as soon as crawled into Blackwell’s mattress on the Airbnb whereas she was sleeping.
A Sacramento County choose final yr dismissed Blackwell’s claims of wrongful termination and racial discrimination, however allowed the sexual harassment allegations to maneuver ahead. The case was scheduled to go to trial Sept. 9.
“From day one, I mentioned this was a frivolous lawsuit filed by a disgruntled worker who fabricated claims in an try and embarrass me in hopes of receiving hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in a settlement,” Ma mentioned in a press release Friday. “After three years of delay, I’ve been fully vindicated, and might proceed my work on inexpensive housing, local weather motion and job creation with out distraction.”
Waukeen McCoy, the San Francisco legal professional who represented Blackwell, mentioned Ma’s characterization of the case as a vindication was “nonsense.”
“I can not fathom how she thinks that she’s been vindicated — my shopper has been vindicated,” McCoy mentioned. “It looks as if Ms. Ma doesn’t really feel like she did something improper. She’s not taking accountability for her actions, which is unlucky.”
The $350,000 settlement settlement was signed by attorneys for the state Justice Division and for the state Treasury, each dated Friday.
Ma was elected because the state’s banker in 2018, and beforehand served within the California Meeting, the place she authored laws banning poisonous chemical compounds and strengthening protections for home violence victims.
Ma is an authorized public accountant and has additionally labored as a member of the California Board of Equalization and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
