Posted on 04/02/2015 7:39:57 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
A CBS celebrity reporter sued two of his bosses Thursday, saying they drunkenly groped him during boozy encounters that weren’t taken seriously by America’s Most Watched Network.
Ken Lombardi, 29, charges in documents filed in Manhattan Federal Court that at a December 2013 CBS News holiday party, Duane Tollison, a senior producer, grabbed Lombardi’s crotch and kissed his neck.
“I wanted to apologize if anything I did offended you or crossed a line. I like to get a little crazy. If you weren’t offended, then let’s do it again. LOL How is your day so far? :)” Tollison wrote the next day, according to the suit, which also names CBS as a defendant.
During a separate encounter this past May 8, Lombardi says he sought professional advice from “CBS Evening News” director Albert (Chip) Colley.
But instead of a review of Lombardi’s celeb interviews, Colley allegedly got wasted at Hell’s Kitchen bar Hardware and hit on the red-carpet reporter.
Lombardi charges that the news honcho — who has since left the company — texted him links to porn sites, rubbed his leg and kissed him. Colley also gave Lombardi a hard time for his sexuality, documents charge.
“Colley told (Lombardi) that he did not really believe being bisexual was real and told plaintiff that he was actually completely gay,” documents read.
Lombardi says that the newsroom bigwig hounded him for another date.
“He would show up in my office. I’d catch him following me in the hallway, exhibiting predatory behavior,” Lombardi said.
Since the encounter, Lombardi said he has developed signs of posttraumatic stress disorder and has frequent nightmares and panic attacks.
“The sound of ice hitting glass will trigger an episode — all of a sudden I’m back in that bar being assaulted by Chip again,” Lombardi said.
Efforts to report the harassment were not taken seriously by human resources and were instead met with retaliation, he says.
Lombardi singles out Paula Cohen, manager of the CBS News entertainment department, for allegedly tormenting him after his internal complaint went nowhere.
“You know you’re really p----ed me off!” Cohen, who is also named in the suit, allegedly yelled at Lombardi.
She also pointed her finger right in his face and refused to stop, documents charge.
“Cohen would smile and say ‘no’ as if defendant Cohen was amused by the torment she was causing plaintiff Lombardi,” documents read.
He was forced to quit in November, papers say.
Lombardi seeks damages to be determined for violation of labor laws, emotional distress and discrimination.
“We believe Mr. Lombardi’s claims are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit,” CBS Interactive spokeswoman Annie Rohrs said.
Lombardi’s attorney, Derek Smith, said the case shows sexual harassment is not just something men inflict on women. “This type of conduct is especially egregious when it happens at a company as reputable as CBS,” he said.
Dont forget BOR’s loofa flafel settlement.
Who’s On First was much more clear than this crazy quilt of an article.
Sounds like VERY INTOLERANT people running CBS. After all, straight people also have sexual attractions - why single out this man ONLY because he’s gay?
(this is what I’d write if I were able to comment on their site)
True. He has to say he has “damages,” so this is what he said. I’m ok with it cause it’s CBS. Poor cute lil gay employee getting harassed all day and night. That can be so very stressful.
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