Olympian's Lawsuit Claims Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Involving Former USC and Cal State LA Athletic Director Mike Garrett

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scandal-plagued former USC Athletic Director, Mike Garrett, within days of starting his new position as Athletic Director at California State University, Los Angeles, sexually harassed younger female employees, alleges a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Cal State LA allegedly refused to take action and instead retaliated against Senior Associate Athletic Director Dr. Sheila Hudson, represented by Abrolat Law pc, when she reported Garrett's sexual harassment and Cal State LA's gender discrimination. Retaliation included Garrett confining Dr. Hudson in an office while attempting to bully her into revealing the names of women who complained and threatening to transfer her to another campus department, the suit alleges.

Dr. Hudson is a track and field Olympian from Sacramento and was a 4-time national triple jump champion while at UC Berkeley. Cal State LA hired Dr. Hudson in 2002. Cal State LA promoted Hudson to Associate Athletic Director by 2008. In January 2016, in violation of Cal State LA's own posting requirements, Cal State did not provide the presumptive Athletic Director, Dr. Hudson, or others with the opportunity to apply for the Athletic Director's position. Instead, the University actively recruited and hired controversial figure Mike Garrett as its Athletic Director, the lawsuit alleges.

According to the suit, upon hire, Garrett called the female employees working under him, including Dr. Hudson, "Babe," "Sweetheart," "Love," and "Legs." Garrett allegedly told at least one student employee, "I love you" and "I could kiss you." The University's Human Resources department justified Garrett's conduct and warned Dr. Hudson against voicing her complaints, alleges the lawsuit.

Dr. Hudson complained to University administrators about various gender and Title IX concerns, including gender pay inequity at the University. Cal State LA has paid virtually all female employees in the Athletics Department, including Dr. Hudson, less than their male counterparts in substantially similar positions, reports the suit. Dr. Hudson provided a pay equity report to correct these and other Title IX violations, but Cal State LA is claimed to have ignored the disparities, the lawsuit alleges. Dr. Hudson filed the lawsuit as a last resort to correct the pay inequity and to eradicate sexual harassment and gender discrimination from the University, according to claims.

The Lawsuit further alleges that Cal State LA again ignored its own hiring policies when it appointed Garrett's son, Daniel Garrett, as Assistant Athletic Director in January 2016, and when Daryl Gross of Syracuse University scandal fame was provided a contract guaranteeing four years of employment in July 2016 to replace Garrett as Athletic Director after just six months on the job.

"When Garrett and Gross were handed the Athletics Director position without allowing me or other highly qualified women to even apply for the job, I believe this to be an affront to women," Dr. Hudson said. "When I first brought forth my concerns about harassment and gender discrimination, I did so alone and quietly, using the University's internal processes. But it quickly became clear to me that these disturbing and discriminatory practices would continue as long as this remained behind closed doors. I believe the best way to bring about positive change is to stand up and speak the truth out loud, even if you're afraid. That's what I'm doing now."

Anyone with information relevant to action is encouraged to call: 866-884-4228  

Contact: Abrolat Law pc

SOURCE Abrolat Law pc

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