SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — Lane County, Ore., commissioners have approved an $82,000 payment to settle a lawsuit by a court clerk who alleged sexual harassment by a former Springfield justice of the peace.
Heather Hendrickson had sought $420,000 in her lawsuit against the county, alleging that Cynthia Sinclair made “frequent extremely offensive comments.”
Sinclair resigned last April. A county investigation into a complaint by five employees of the court found that she had made frequent and unwelcome sexual comments that “unreasonably interfered with their ability to do their jobs.” The outside investigator concluded that Sinclair also made offensive comments to parties appearing in her courtroom. Sinclair denied that her conduct was sexual harassment.
The Register-Guard newspaper of Eugene said Hendrickson and her lawyer declined comment Monday.
County board Chairman Faye Stewart said the settlement was in the county’s best interests.
