The Red Oak city administrator is responding to a lawsuit filed against him. “No substance to the claim” is the response Red Oak City Administrator Brad Wright has regarding sexual harassment allegations brought against him and the City of Red Oak by a former employee of the city.
Wright and the city of Red Oak representatives deny and civil rights violation charges brought against them. “The sad part of our system is anybody can file suit and make any kind of claims they want whether there’s any validity to them whatsoever. But this is an employee that things needed to be dealt with and this is the course she chooses to take,” Wright says.
According the Red Oak Express Newspaper, the plaintiff, Christine Morrison, worked as the city’s Nuisance and Animal Control Officer from 2006 until July of 2008 when she was terminated by Wright. She is a member of the National Guard. The lawsuit, which names Wright and the City of Red Oak as defendants, lists five counts including Violation of Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
Councilman Larry Brandstetter says he was unaware charges were brought against the city – charges were initially filed in June. Morrison’s attorney Paige Fiedler of Des Moines has not returned phone calls.
Contributed by Kristan Gray, KMA, Shenandoah