A former Department of Motor Vehicles worker has filed suit in U.S. District Court claiming she was sexually harassed by one-time Carson City mayoral candidate Tom Tatro.
Tatro, a two-term member of the Carson Board of Supervisors, was DMV fiscal officer at the time of the harassment allegations, which were investigated by Tatro's supervisor and dismissed.
Julia Mason claims in the lawsuit that in June 2000 she was subjected to harassment, including Tatro rubbing her shoulder and at least one attempt to kiss her. She said she made it clear she wasn't interested.
Mason said as a result of her complaints, Tatro made offensive remarks about her to other workers and retaliated against her. She says her job was turned into a temporary position instead of a permanent post and that she was eventually fired as a result of the situation.
According to the complaint, Mason complained to Ginny Lewis, then deputy director at DMV, who conducted a formal investigation including extensive recorded interviews.
Despite her complaints, the court complaint says, DMV officials "concluded that the actions plaintiff complained about did not constitute sexual harassment" and dismissed her complaint on March 14, 2001.
The suit doesn't actually name Tatro as a defendant. Instead it names the state of Nevada.
Tatro has since left Nevada and moved to Arizona. He couldn't be reached for comment.
Mason's lawyer, Mark Mausert, also could not be reached Thursday for comment .
Deputy Attorney General Brian Stockton said the state will fight the lawsuit. But he said he couldn't respond to questions about the suit because he hasn't received a copy of the materials filed Wednesday in Reno.
