SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The first of nearly 20 women to come forward with sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Bob Filner is seeking about $1.48 million in damages, it was reported Saturday.
Irene McCormick Jackson was Filner's communications director, and her emergence as a victim of Filner's raunchy behavior helped spark the move to force Filner from office.
Attorney Gloria Allred's office filed in a statement of damages earlier this month, with a list of damages expected to be paid by the city and Filner. She seeks $950,000 for emotional stress, pain and suffering; $450,000 for loss of future earnings; $70,000 for treatment of her emotional injuries and $11,000 for loss of earnings, the San Diego Reader reported.
McCormick Jackson alleged that Filner, 71, told her that she should work without wearing panties, that he wanted to see her naked and that he could not wait to consummate their relationship. He also allegedly demanded kisses and dragged his former spokeswoman in a headlock while making sexual comments.
Mediation over McCormick Jackson's lawsuit led to the one-time 10-term congressman's resignation in August, after less than nine months in office.
Filner's resignation agreement included a provision that the city will provide a joint defense along with his private attorneys, with a $98,000 cap on city payments for outside counsel. However, the city reserved the right to seek reimbursement for any damages it sustains.
Filner pleaded guilty in October to a count of false imprisonment by violence and two misdemeanor counts of battery for sexually harassing three women while in office. A stipulated plea agreement calls for Filner to be placed on three years probation, spend three months on home confinement and be barred from ever again seeking or holding public office.
He remains free on his own recognizance ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 9.