Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and the city of San Diego face a new lawsuit from a woman who says the embattled politician “rubbed and grabbed” her buttock.
Attorneys for Jeri Dines filed the lawsuit Wednesday, claiming she is owed damages for sexual battery, gender violence and sexual harassment due to the alleged incident.
The lawsuit states on May 25, 2013, Filner and his bodyguards attended the Fiesta Island Dog Owners event while he was still mayor.
“While at the event, Filner rubbed and grabbed Dines’ buttock,” the document says.
The bodyguards —who were city employees — witnessed the behavior, attorneys say, but did nothing to stop it or protect Dines.
The complaint alleges the bodyguards bear some responsibility because all city employees are required to report any violation of the city’s “zero tolerance policy.”
During Filner’s time as mayor, “Filner’s bodyguards would look the other way when he would engage in inappropriate and wrongful conduct,” the lawsuit says.
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Another alleged victim, Marilyn McGaughy, also pointed fingers at Filner’s security detail, naming them in her lawsuit as well. Both McGaughy and Dines are represented by the same attorney, Dan Gilleon.
Dines’ claim for an unspecified amount of money says she sustained physical and emotional distress, embarrassment and mental anguish from the incident, as well as medical expenses.
Filner resigned from office in August 2013 after months of scandal. More than a dozen women accused him of inappropriate behavior, and in October 2013, he pleaded guilty to felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery involving victims of sexual harassment.
He was released from 90 days of house arrest earlier this year.
In August of this year, former employee Benelia Santos-Hunter filed a lawsuit against the city and Filner, following the lead of former Communications Director Irene McCormick Jackson, who was awarded $250,000 in a settlement with the city.
