School Backs Headmaster in Harassment Suit : Charges: La Jolla country day school trustees say school investigated and dismissed the initial charge of sexual harassment made by a former receptionist

The trustees of La Jolla Country Day School expressed shock and disappointment Friday over the filing of a lawsuit by a former receptionist who alleges sexual harassment on the part of the school’s headmaster, John C. Littleford.

School officials stated their support for Littleford, 47, who board president Gloria de Aragon Andujar said in a statement had guided the school “on an unprecedented path of excellence.”

Littleford issued his own statement, expressing what he called “profound sadness” and “deep anger” at the allegations of Lisa R. Gordon, 22, who claims he repeatedly touched her, made inappropriate comments and pressured her for a date.

Littleford fervently denies the charges.

Gordon first reported her complaints to the school’s 18-member board of directors in a three-page letter last June. School officials said they conducted an investigation, found no merit to the charges and voiced their support for Littleford.

Dissatisfied with the school’s response, Gordon, now a UC Davis student living in Sacramento, said she decided to hire an attorney. Andujar said the school rejected a settlement offer of $40,000 from Gordon’s attorney last week.

Gordon’s lawsuit was filed Oct. 18 in San Diego County Superior Court. It seeks $25,000 in damages from Littleford and the prestigious private school.

Gordon has also begun the process of filing a complaint with the state’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing, officials in the agency’s San Diego office confirmed.

In a letter to Country Day parents released Friday, Littleford wrote: “I am well aware of the ugly rumors and innuendo such allegations and resulting media attention can prompt. For my part, I assure you that the allegations are not true, are unfair and even outrageous.”

The school’s statement, which was mailed to students, faculty and staff and released to the press, read in part:

“Miss Gordon’s complaint relates to verbal harassment. There is no allegation of sexual involvement of any kind between her and the headmaster. Further, the school believes the investigation it conducted and the action it took (last June) were appropriate under the circumstances prevailing at the time.

“And most importantly,” the statement added, “board members voted unanimously in support of John Littleford’s leadership of the school.”

The school also noted that Littleford “has retained his own counsel and is considering legal action against the former employee,” who worked at the school from Oct. 30, 1990, until early June.

Gordon could not be reached for comment Friday.