Cicero President Accused In Sex Harassment Suit

[Ana]

She needs botox?!  What is wrong with you?  That's probably why she threw the can of pop having to work in a sexist environment.  It is so obvious.  Men who can't respect a woman at the helm.

[go cubs go]

how the hell does this have anything to do with berwyn

[Bonster]

how the hell does this have anything to do with berwyn

because Berwyn's mayor said so...

[Ted]

In today's Tribune:

  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-cicero-firing-29oct29,0,4155205.story 
 
  Cicero employee who filed lawsuit against town president is fired

Tribune staff report
October 29, 2009

  A Cicero town employee who filed a lawsuit in June alleging Town President Larry Dominick sexually harassed and assaulted her was fired Tuesday night as head of the town's Animal Welfare Department.

  Sharon Starzyk, 49, was accused of "irregularities in management" by the town's inspector general, James Klosak, who recommended her termination, according to Cicero spokesman Elio Montenegro.

Trustees approved Starzyk's dismissal Tuesday after meeting in executive session. Montenegro would not comment about specific "irregularities" but said an investigation continues.

Starzyk said Wednesday that her dismissal was retaliation for the lawsuit she filed.

In the suit, Starzyk alleges that Dominick embarked on "an increasingly offensive course" of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Dominick, through a spokesman, denied the allegations.

[OakParkSpartan]

Shocking!

[Classof67]

Fired from the Animal Welfare Department for accusing Dominick of sexual harassment?

I heard it was written in her HR file that she was caught barking up the wrong tree! 

[Bonster]

LOL.

She'll be here all week; don't forget to tip your waitress!

[Ted]

  Article in today's Tribune:

  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-cicero-settlement-4dec04,0,788882.story 
 
  Settlement reached in Cicero harassment case
  Town trustees approve 'confidential' amount

Tribune staff report
December 4, 2009

Cicero town trustees have authorized a financial settlement with a former town employee who alleged in a lawsuit that her supervisor sexually harassed her in 2006. The trustees approved the settlement with Athina Solomos at a board meeting last month, Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said Thursday.

Solomos' lawyer, Dana Kurtz, said in an e-mail that "the settlement is confidential so I cannot discuss it."

   Neither Kurtz nor the town would disclose the settlement amount. The suit was filed in 2007. Solomos, who worked in the town's Parking Enforcement and Buildings Department, alleged that her supervisor, Jose Del Angel, told her she could get maintenance done to her squad car in exchange for sex and made other harassing remarks.

  She also accused Del Angel of making sexual comments about her appearance -- once supposedly over a megaphone. He ran his hand-held radio across her breasts and buttocks, she alleged. Del Angel was suspended from work for two days and sent to sensitivity training for engaging in consensual sexual banter with Solomos, according to a town spokesman in 2008.

[Ted]

  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-not-guilty-verdict-w-zone-bldec04,0,1567505.story 
 
  Ex-Cicero official found not guilty of pop-can-assault charge

Tribune staff report
December 4, 2009

The former director of Cicero's Animal Welfare Department, who had been accused of throwing a can of pop at a colleague, was found not guilty of misdemeanor assault Tuesday. Cook County Judge Gregory Vasquez issued a directed verdict after the state rested its case in Maywood, finding that prosecutors had not proven Sharon Starzyk guilty.

Starzyk, 49, of Cicero was fired from her position two months after her Aug. 25 arrest. Her attorney, Terry Ekl, said the assault charge and subsequent firing were in retaliation for a federal sexual harassment suit Starzyk has pending against Town President Larry Dominick.

"You have to be from Mars to think this isn't connected," Ekl said.

  Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said the issues are not related. The town's position is that she was not being harassed but was the subject of an internal investigation into her management of the Animal Welfare Department, Hanania said.

[Bonster]

  Article in today's Tribune:

  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-cicero-settlement-4dec04,0,788882.story 
 
  Settlement reached in Cicero harassment case
  Town trustees approve 'confidential' amount

That's the "staff" short version with no meat:

Article in yesterday's Tribune:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/cicero-settles-sex-harrassment-suit-wont-disclose-payout.html

Cicero settles sex harrassment suit, payout not disclosed

  December 3, 2009 7:08 PM 

Cicero town trustees have authorized a financial settlement with a former town employee who alleged in a lawsuit that her supervisor sexually harassed her in 2006.

The trustees approved the settlement with Athina Solomos at a board meeting last month, Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said Thursday.

Solomos's lawyer, Dana Kurtz, said in an email that "the settlement is confidential so I cannot discuss it." Kurtz nor the town would disclose the settlement amount.

Hanania said town President Larry Dominick decided to settle the case out of court because he believes it's in the best interest of the taxpayers. The suit was filed in 2007.

Solomos, who worked in the town's Parking Enforcement and Building's Department, alleged in the lawsuit that her supervisor, Jose Del Angel, told her she could get maintenance done to her squad car in exchange for sex and made other harassing remarks.

She also accused Del Angel of making sexual comments about her appearance -- once supposedly over a megaphone. In June 2006, she said, he ran his hand-held radio across her breasts and buttocks.

Del Angel was suspended from work for two days and sent to sensitivity training for engaging in consensual sexual banter with Solomos, according to a town spokesman in 2008.

Del Angel was later promoted to head of the town's Water Department. Solomos was dismayed that Del Angel would be promoted after the alleged harassment, Kurtz said at the time. Del Angel later decided to leave his position with the town.

Dominick was originally named in the lawsuit but was not accused of any direct sexual harassment against Solomos. According to Hanania, Dominick was later dismissed as a defendant.

Dominick has two other sexual harassment cases pending against him. According to a suit filed by town employee Janidet Lujano in 2007, Dominick and former auxiliary police chief Moises Zayas are accused of "repeated and pervasive sexual harassment."

Lujano said in the suit that she was demoted from her job as an auxiliary police sergeant because she rejected sexual advances from both Dominick and Zayas.

In October 2008, Zayas was found dead in his home from an apparent suicide.

Sharon Starzyk, 48, filed a sexual harassment suit against Dominick in June, alleging that Dominick embarked on "an increasingly offensive course" of sexual harassment and sexual assault, which included explicit comments, groping and inappropriate touching.

The suit accuses Dominick of sending Starzyk lewd and sexually explicit text messages. The suit said Dominick "grabbed and squeezed her breasts" and in one case "picked her up by her crotch."

Starzyk was recently fired from her job as head of the town's Animal Welfare Department resulting from an investigation by the town's inspector general.

-- Joseph Ruzich

[BRoWN]

SNL skit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBVuAGFcGKY

[MRS. NORTHSIDER]

What we have here is women abused by men in power and then made to feel powerless (ATHINA SOLOMOS, SHARON STARZYK) and then suing and getting some form of justice, however small.  Why does the town of Cicero continue to settle these lawsuits if they have no merit? 

[Crunchie]

I don't see how damages awarded because a city official screwed up, whatever the reason, can be deemed to be "confidential?" Aren't those damages being paid out of tax funds?

[EC]

It is still considered litigation and is protected. That's the law unfortunately.

[Bonster]

Unless it's paid by insurance there's no way to hide it, though. 
It has to be a line item on some budget, somewhere, no?

Are workman's comp cases not considered litigation?
I would hope the citizens of Cicero demand the #'s and/or vote the pervert out.

[EC]

Good questions. Some settelments require a "no discuss" agreement by both parties. Not a legal expert, but this may take presidence over any other type of disclosure. As for the amount in a budget, it may just be lumped in a line item of settlement costs.

[OakParkSpartan]

Good questions. Some settelments require a "no discuss" agreement by both parties. Not a legal expert, but this may take presidence over any other type of disclosure. As for the amount in a budget, it may just be lumped in a line item of settlement costs.

Here in Berwyn, they typically state a case number and $$$ amount for settlement.  You can then use the case number to find out who filed the lawsuit.

[Ted]

  Nice Xmas present for Ms. Starzyk from the tax payers in Cicero, courtesy of Larry Dominick:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-fired-cicero-animal-welfare-worker-sharon-starzyk-500000-settlement-larry-dominick-20111227,0,2538358.story 
 
  Fired Cicero worker reaches $500,000 settlement with town

By Joseph Ruzich
Special to the Tribune
4:05 p.m. CST,
December 27, 2011

   A former Cicero animal welfare employee who was terminated from her job after she accused Town President Larry Dominick of sexually harassing her was awarded a $500,000 settlement today.

The town moved forward with the settlement after Sharon Starzyk dropped the sexual harassment claim against Dominick earlier this month but did not drop a wrongful termination claim against the town, according to documents provided by town officials. In the settlement, the town denies any wrongdoing.

Starzyk, director of the town's animal shelter, was fired for "irregularities in management" in October 2009, according to town officials. The firing happened four months after she filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by Dominick. She later alleged her firing resulted from her filing of the harassment suit.

According to the settlement, $150,000 of the award amount will go to Starzyk's attorney with the remaining amount being paid in portions to Starzyk. The settlement says Starzyk is required to pay taxes on the amount.

Starzyk, who was hired in 2000 to work in the town's Animal Welfare Department, alleged in the original lawsuit that Dominick embarked on "an increasingly offensive course" of sexual harassment and sexual assault, which included explicit comments, groping and inappropriate touching.

"She [Starzyk] is happy to have this chapter of her life come to an end," said her attorney, Terence Moran.

The terms of the settlement agreement do not allow the parties to comment in detail about it.

[Ted]

Cicero President Accused In Sex Harassment Suit
June 8, 2009 8:01 PM, Chicago Tribune Online

....  Since 2007, three other town employees have sued town leaders, claiming frequent sexual harassment that has allegedly included inappropriate touching. Dominick is named as a defendant in all three suits but accused of harassment in only one.

The suits are still pending.

According to a lawsuit filed against Dominick in 2007, Janidet Lujano, a former auxiliary police sergeant, accused Dominick of harassment and inappropriate touching. The suit said Dominick repeatedly commented about her breasts. She also said Dominick touched her inappropriately and made sexual comments about her mother.

According to Moran, Starzyk first revealed that she was sexually harassed and assaulted during a recent deposition hearing for the Lujano trial. Moran said Starzyk didn't want to tell anyone about the incidents in fear of losing her job.

--Joseph Ruzich

   Another big settlement:

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2013/08/08/ciceros-insurance-pays-settlement-in-dominick-sexual-harassment-case/a3i5srb/


Cicero's insurance pays settlement in Dominick sexual harassment case

By SUBURBAN LIFE MEDIA
Created: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:36 a.m. CDT
Updated: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:38 a.m. CDT

  CICERO – The town of Cicero's insurance carrier will shell out $675,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against President Larry Dominick.

In the lawsuit, former Cicero police officer Janidet Lujano alleged Dominick continuously made sexual advances and improper comments toward her, and even fondled her on occasion. Dominick allegedly also suggested Lujano participate in a threesome with another woman and himself.

Dominick said he never made such advances to the former officer, according to Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania.

Hanania said he could not comment further on the case for legal reasons, but said the settlement was entirely paid without any deductable through an insurance policy.

The settlement marks the second such sexual harassment case settled by Cicero involving Dominick and an employee. In 2011, Cicero paid a $500,000 settlement to the former head of the town animal shelter, Sharon Starzyk, who said Dominick groped or touched her inappropriately on several occasions.

Starzyk also alleged Dominick sent her explicit emails suggesting a threesome with two of Dominick's friends.