State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s workplace allegedly had a sleazy, poisonous office tradition {that a} “balloon penis” at an workplace celebration and smut cartoons shared by staffers, a newly surfaced sexual harassment go well with confirmed.
DiNapoli’s workplace quietly paid $350,000 to settle the go well with from ex-staffer Evan Harris, a 16-year veteran who labored on the workplace on Maiden Lane and claimed supervisors and workers subjected him to sexual feedback, and made inappropriate remarks about his girlfriend.
The lawsuit, initially filed in Manhattan federal courtroom in 2020, included an image of a balloon formed like a penis that appeared at an workplace retirement celebration for a colleague.
Harris additionally alleged that a number of different weird lewd transgressions occurred throughout his time in DiNapoli’s workplace, together with a colleague who joked that Harris would “jerk off” in a brand new lactate room.
A supervisor additionally allegedly repeatedly despatched him lewd texts, together with a cartoon depicting somebody performing oral intercourse on a microphone.
He was additionally allegedly despatched a photograph of a man getting a prostate examination with the physician behind him, which incorporates the caption of the affected person saying “I requested the physician the place I may put my pants. ‘Over there, beside mine,’ was not the reply I used to be anticipating.”
One other sexual cartoon he was allegedly despatched depicted a girl who mentioned, “My gynecologist says I can’t have intercourse for 2 weeks.” A person responds, “What did your dentist say?” the go well with claimed.
An extra cartoon of a person with an uncovered penis learn “I used to be assaulted by a clown and cease laughing,” in accordance with the claims.
Data present that greater than $900,000 was spent on personal regulation corporations to defend DiNapoli’s workplace within the case — together with $729,760.11 to the agency Bond, Schoeneck & King and $175,469.51 to O’Connell and Aronowitz.
Choose Loretta Preska rejected the comptroller’s workplace’s movement to dismiss the case in 2023, ensuing within the subsequent settlement.
Harris, who was employed as an assistant to the director of audits within the workplace of unclaimed funds, alleged that when he advised his supervisors the conduct was inappropriate, he confronted retaliation, together with being looped out of labor tasks, in accordance with the go well with.
Two of his supervisors — Lawrence Schantz, the director of the workplace of unclaimed funds, and Robert Tambini, the audits director within the unclaimed workplace — had been listed as defendants together with the comptroller’s workplace.
The go well with claimed that when Harris introduced the considerations to a higher-up, his request to alter supervisors was denied.
Harris’ boss then allegedly introduced him with two choices: stop or be fired for trigger. His supervisor then warned him that if he had been fired for trigger, he can be unable to work in authorities once more, the go well with claimed.
When Harris threatened to talk to a lawyer, he was fired for trigger, in accordance with the lawsuit.
Every celebration agreed to the settlement “with none admissions of fault or legal responsibility” on April 17, 2024, in accordance with a courtroom submitting.
DiNapoli’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Submit.
DiNapoli, the comptroller since 2007, is operating for re-election this fall and faces the primary spirited Democratic main since his first election.
His main opponents may embody Adam Bunkeddeko, Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw.
Joseph Hernandez is the Republican nominee for comptroller.
