There’s been some explosive new developments in the case of Maria Brown against the Nutt firm. Recall that this is the case where a paralegal in the Nutt firm is suing for sexual harassment. Recall that the complaint she filed has a lot of allegations that the Nutt firm (as a part of the Scruggs Katrina Group) ignored Judge Acker’s order to return the Rigsby documents– the complaint has some pretty hard-hitting allegations suggesting contempt of court, and alleges that Brown was fired for two reasons: complaining about sexual harassment, and for internally “blowing the whistle” about the failure to return the Katrina documents. One of the few ways Mississippi law protects employees from being fired at any time is that they cannot be fired for improper reasons, and that’s two different improper reasons.

Anyhow, a new motion shows that case still has capacity to surprise. Brown’s emergency motion alleges that word got to Ms. Brown’s lawyer that one of the defendants Ernie Coward (alleged to be one of the more egregious in creating a hostile work environment) has been deleting evidence from his computer and ditching phone records that will advance her case. But, the motion alleges, the computer stuff may not be that big a problem because it has been seized by the police inthe city of Madison in a child porn investigation!

I didn’t see that coming. Here’s the motion, and for those who have forgotten or want an update, here is Ms. Brown’s amended complaint, and here is the Nutt firm’s answer, hotly contesting Ms. Brown’s claims. The complaint contains allegations of very strange behavior (well, at least strange in my experience of offices. Perhaps I’ve lived a sheltered life. For instance, I’ve never worked anywhere where folks offered to share pictures of their own and other’s genitalia). The creepiest (and most repeatable-in-mixed-company) is that member of the firm’s management “began making Plaintiff feel uncomfortable to be around one on one because he would constantly rub Plaintiff’s hand which gave Plaintiff the chills.” Later: “Bill Jones continued to rub Plaintiff’s hand when no [one] else was present.”

There’s a little (unintended one expects) inside joke in the Nutt answer. Nutt alleges that Ms. Brown was assuming the risk of sexual harassment, I guess in accepting employment from those folks. Nicely ironic defense for a firm that sued the tobacco industry don’t ya’ll think?

This is yet another front in the multi-front war not listed in my attempt at a comprehensive summary. H/t to Irate Today for the alert.

http://www.folo.us/2008/02/11/maria-brown-vs-the-nutt-law-firm-grabs-out-attention/