Olson Suit Charges Sexual Harassment

Sportswriter Lisa Olson sued the New England Patriots on Thursday, charging sexual harassment and civil rights violations.

Olson, who has worked for the Boston Herald for four years, will leave her job for a short time, her attorneys said, but has support of the newspaper and is expected to return.

Olson’s suit was filed in a Massachusetts Superior Court against the NFL team, owner Victor Kiam, former General Manager Patrick Sullivan, former media services director James Oldham and three players--Zeke Mowatt, Michael Timpson and Robert Perryman.

The suit also alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional damage to her professional reputation. It asks for unspecified monetary damages.

The suit stems from incidents beginning last Sept. 17 when Olson said she was sexually harassed while conducting an interview in the Patriot locker room.