FEATURED SETTLEMENT: California State University Settles Sex Harassment Lawsuit For $2.75 Million

California State University Los Angeles recently agreed to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by Sheila Hudson, a former Senior Associate Athletic Director. The lawsuit alleged that a then high-ranking athletic director, Mike Garrett, repeatedly used degrading and sexist names such as, ‘Sweetheart,’ ‘Love,’ ‘Babe’ and ‘Legs’ for both herself and other women in the department. Moreover, Hudson alleges that when she complained about the issued to Garrett that he “exploded” in anger and demanded to know the names of any other women who had issues with his behavior. The complaint went farther to plead that human resources, purportedly after an investigation, found that Garett’s behavior was justified, and that Hudson should be cautious in complaining in the future. In addition to claims of sexual harassment, the lawsuit also claimed that the University retaliated against her after she compiled a report showing a pay gap between men and women in the athletic department.

The University defended its termination of Hudson because she admitted to using her cellphone to record meetings with University officials without their consent, in violation of Penal Code §632.

The settlement agreement provides that Hudson will receive $1.27 Million and her attorneys will receive $1.47 million.