A lawsuit towards California State Treasurer Fiona Ma alleging sexual harassment can go to trial, a choose dominated Thursday.
Judith Blackwell, a former high-ranking workplace worker, filed the lawsuit in July 2021 in Sacramento Superior Courtroom. Along with sexual harassment, she alleged wrongful termination and racial discrimination.
The swimsuit alleged that Ma would typically lease resort rooms in Sacramento for workers to remain in after working late. Blackwell alleged that whereas sharing rooms, Ma referred to as her into her bed room a number of instances, uncovered her naked buttocks, and climbed into Blackwell’s mattress together with her.
In his ruling, First reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Superior Courtroom Choose Christopher Krueger dismissed Blackwell’s claims of racial discrimination and wrongful termination. However he mentioned Blackwell’s claims, if believed by a jury, may show that Ma sexually harassed her.
Ma additionally typically shared resort rooms together with her then-chief of workers Genevieve Jobanda, A.J Sacramento Bee Analysis Expense experiences have been present in 2021. Ma mentioned on the time that it was to save cash.
Ma has denied the allegations and filed a movement to dismiss Blackwell’s case. Her spokesman, Steve Maviglio, instructed The Related Press on Friday that her workplace is “happy that various the fees have been dismissed and that the treasurer can have her day in court docket.”
“These allegations are baseless by a disgruntled worker, and we stay up for proving them false,” Maviglio mentioned.
A settlement convention is scheduled for Wednesday, in accordance with court docket data.
Ma, a Democrat, served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors earlier than being elected state treasurer in 2018. The treasurer manages state investments, serves on the pension fund board and oversees applications that present tax credit for inexpensive housing and public sector financing. Work initiatives.
Ma was additionally beforehand elected to the state meeting. She mentioned she plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2026.
The Related Press contributed to this story.