A sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed against Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar by one of his former aides was settled, a lawyer for the plaintiff said Wednesday.
Michael Eisenberg, who represents Francine Godoy, said he could not divulge the terms of the accord other than to say it included the dismissal of his client’s lawsuit.
Godoy sued both Huizar and the city on Oct. 17. She is a former deputy chief of staff in Huizar’s 14th District council office.
In April, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Fahey granted a request by Godoy to add a cause of action against the city for alleged failure to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation.
Godoy alleged — among other things — that her former boss offered to support her in an election campaign in exchange for sex. She claimed she declined to provide sexual favors, leading to a pattern of discrimination and retaliation that included Huizar withdrawing his support for Godoy’s bid for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.
Huizar denied any wrongdoing, although the married councilman admitted last October that he and Godoy had a “consensual” relationship that he “deeply regrets.”
– City News Service
Correction: An earlier version of this article accidentally included a photo of Councilman Felipe Fuentes. MyNewsLA regrets and apologizes for the error.