East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. Calls Sexual Harassment Lawsuit 'Baseless' and 'Salacious'

(Editor’s Note: We first published this story earlier but here it is again in case you missed it)

Regarding the lawsuit filed by Attorney Williams on behalf of Francine Carbone, Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. issued the following statement:

“I continue to maintain that the allegations contained in Ms. Carbone’s complaint are categorically false. Unfortunately, Ms. Carbone has chosen to address her prior employment issues by pursuing a frivolous, meritless lawsuit. I am saddened by that choice, but confident that the court process will yield the truth.

Moving ahead, I will not allow this case to become a public or political spectacle. Accordingly, any future questions or requests for comment should be directed to Attorneys Hugh Keefe or John Conway.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to assure the residents that this case will not distract my team and I from continuing to effectively manage the Town’s affairs. Since 1997, we’ve balanced fourteen budgets, stabilized and reduced taxes, and fought for critical public safety improvements. Moving forward, we will continue to focus our attention not on this salacious and baseless lawsuit, but on continuing to offer East Haven stable, responsible leadership.”

Original post: It’s official, former Town Hall Secretary Francine Carbone this week filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr.

Confidential attempts to settle case failed in January as Carbone’s attorney said the town had no desire in settling the issue, reports the New Haven Register.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Superior Court, New Haven.

Carbone received permission in February to sue the town after the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities found “reasonable cause” in her complaint, the Register reports.

The CHRO complaint filed in July 2014 alleges that Maturo made inappropriate sexual advances and comments towards her. The employee also filed a Federal Medical Leave Act lawsuit against the town saying she was pressured into returning to work after executing her FMLA leave on May 5, 2014.

CHRO spokesperson Jim O’Neill has told the Register that “reasonable cause” is the term the CHRO uses as opposed to probable merit, adding that it is a much lower standard that triggers the investigation.

Maturo allegedly used sexually graphic language, repeatedly grabbed his crotch, and exposed himself to Carbone, according to the CHRO complaint.

Maturo in a prepared statement released last year when the complaint was first filed blasted the employee saying he was “saddened” by the complaint, and added it is “patently false allegations contained in that filing.”

Maturo at the time labeled the employee as a “disgruntled employee who was on the verge of being terminated.” The mayor said last year the woman “chose to address her employment problems by filing a salacious complaint against me and the Town of East Haven.”

In the CHRO complaint the Carbone alleges, “I was subjected to a hostile environment based on my sex, consisting of ongoing sexual harassment by the mayor, continuously for years to and including May 5, 2014.”

Related Stories:

• CHRO Finds Reasonable Cause to Investigate Sexual Harassment Case Against East Haven Mayor
• East Haven Woman Who Filed Sexual Assault Complaint Against Maturo Feels Intimidated at Hearing
• East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. Accused of Sexual Harassment