Tom Schedler, ex-Secretary of State, seeks his money back in sexual harassment settlement
Tom Schedler, who resigned last May amid a lawsuit alleging he repeatedly sexually harassed a woman who worked in his office, is trying to get his money back as part of that case.
Though the lawsuit was settled late last year, Schedler is seeking reimbursement for his costs. The state ultimately paid north of $180,000 on the case, including attorneys fees, and the woman who alleged the harassment received $167,500, including $18,425 that Schedler paid personally.
In a lawsuit Schedler filed against the state in February, he argues the state did not provide him as an individual with a defense in the original case, as it was required to by law. Hes seeking reimbursement of attorneys fees and costs of $14,308. He is also requesting reimbursement for the funds he paid in the original case, the suit says.
Schedler is the most significant political figure in Louisiana to resign amid sexual harassment allegations during the national #MeToo movement. Schedlers resignation, along with a sexual harassment case against Johnny Anderson, a top aide to Gov. John Bel Edwards who later resigned, spurred lawmakers to create statewide policies and change laws surrounding sexual harassment.
Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_446e6f30-9154-11e9-8093-87d271b9e8d7.html