Documents From Mike Malone Suit in Sacramento
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I have obtained court documents concerning the 2016 federal civil rights lawsuit filed from an ex-employee of the City of Sacramento against her supervisor and Mike Malone, a candidate for Interim City Manager here in Vallejo.
Everything in the Plaintiff Jewel Mason’s claim is alleged and has not been proven in court. The City of Sacramento eventually settled with Mason for an amount reportedly in the lower five figures.
As Anne Cardwell pointed out at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Malone, who currently serves as the water director, was not accused of sexual harassment. He was accused of “retaliating” against the plaintiff when she reported the alleged harassment. He served as Operations and Maintenance manager for the City of Sacramento before coming to Vallejo.
According to the original claim filed in April of 2016, “Defendant Malone personally undertook to use his official position and power to retaliate against Plaintiff for reporting the sexual harassment. Furthermore, upon information and belief, Defendant Malone empowered Defendant, Elsie Fong, to sexually harass Plaintiff.”
In the City’s Answer to this accusation filed in court, it denies “each and every allegation contained therein.”
The document states that another employee, Dustin Sou, alleged that Malone retaliate against him for assisting the investigation into Mason’s complaint, and employee Farrell York alleged that Malone retaliate against him for “complaining” about age discrimination. The city does not respond to this in its Answer.
Mason alleges in her claim that Malone “was close with the Defendant, Fong, (and) wanted her to stay with the City, and empowered her. He used his power to harass Plaintiff and cut her job responsibilities,” it states.
Mason’s claim against Malone ranges from him allegedly denying her a good parking spot to keeping her from advancing at the organization.
“For example,” she alleged, “Malone caused Plaintiff’s car to be locked behind a fence.” Mason claims the gate had “never been locked in five years.” The Plaintiff goes on to accuse Malone of barring her from parking close to the building even though she had a handicapped placard.
Mason alleges she was denied a permanent position with the City due to her sexual harassment complaints.
“Malone and others influenced the interview and hiring processes because, among other things, she complained about the sexual harassment to the EEOC,” her claim stated.
In its Answer, the City of Sacramento denied “each and every allegation” against Malone.
The City of Vallejo and Mike Malone have declined commenting on this case.
