Hindsight is 20/20 on Glendale Claim By Robert Warne - August 13, 2003 Following a jury’s June decision to award three female police officers $3.5 million for sexual harassment claims, the City of Glendale has been building a case to persuade the court to issue a new trial or at the least reduce the amount of the award.
The three officers filed their suit in December 2001 after they were subjected to sexually explicit videos during roll call. They also complained that they suffered as a result of retaliation from superiors after they refused unwanted advances, which included being asked out on dates while still classified as probationary officers.
The work environment took its toll on the claimants. Renae Kerner had been hospitalized for chest pains resulting from the stress, Kathryn Frieders has experienced panic attacks and suffers from depression, and Jamie Franke has suffered from ulcers.
The city believes that Kerner’s $1.3 million award far exceeded the maximum $25,000 for her claim that her officer’s bill of rights was violated.
It also has taken issue with Frieders’ quid pro quo sexual-harassment claim because of the statute of limitations.
And it thinks Franke’s claim for disability discrimination is a workers’ compensation matter that doesn’t belong in civil court.
The city alleges it has evidence of two instances of juror misconduct, and despite already spending about $1.4 million it is willing to continue the fight based on the merit of the information.
And while the city is trying to reduce the award, the attorney for the plaintiffs has filed a motion to increase the award.
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