CA-LG: Former staffer to drop sexual harassment case against California Treasurer Fiona Ma (D)

SACRAMENTO, California — The former employee who accused state Treasurer Fiona Ma of sexual harassment will drop the complaint against her and settle other claims, ending a three-year civil court case that threatened to derail the state official as she mounts a campaign for lieutenant governor, both parties confirmed Thursday.

The request for dismissal, seen by POLITICO and set to be filed at the Sacramento Superior Court on Friday, comes before a trial that was scheduled for Sept. 9. The former employee, Judith Blackwell, had sued Ma and the State Treasurer’s Office in 2021 alleging a swath of claims including sexual harassment, racial discrimination and wrongful termination, accusing the treasurer of exposing herself and crawling into bed with her when they shared a hotel room.

Throughout the case Ma has maintained her innocence, and had been pushing for a trial to dismiss what she called “completely false and frivolous” claims. The court tossed the allegations of racial discrimination and wrongful termination last year. After months of trial delays, the move by Blackwell’s lawyers this week relieves Ma of the sexual harassment complaint.

The state also reached a separate settlement agreement with Blackwell of $350,000, the California Department of Justice confirmed, releasing the State Treasurer’s Office of any allegations of wrongdoing.




https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/29/fiona-ma-sexual-harassment-drop-00176784