THOUSAND OAKS : 2 Women Allege Sexual Harassment

Two former employees sued a Thousand Oaks insurance agent Friday, saying they were the victims of “nonstop sexual harassment.”

Brenda J. Partch, 41, of Thousand Oaks and Sara D. Moser, 52, of Canoga Park filed the suit in Ventura County Superior Court, asserting that John K. Veseth repeatedly harassed them at his State Farm agency in Thousand Oaks.

Veseth, 65, called the allegations “a pack of lies.”

According to the suit, Partch worked at the agency for about eight years until she left in October. Moser worked there from 1986 until 1990, according to the suit. Both left “because they could no longer endure the hostile work environment created by John Veseth’s repeated and sexually explicit verbal abuse, harassment and demands for sexual favors at the workplace,” according to the suit.

The abuse included such comments as “Take off your dress,” “Lay down on the couch” and “Come sit on my lap,” the suit says. On numerous occasions, it adds, Veseth tried to fondle the women’s breasts.

The suit accuses State Farm Insurance of condoning the agent’s alleged transgressions by refusing to act when they complained.

Brenda Smith, public affairs coordinator at State Farm regional headquarters in Westlake Village, declined to comment on the suit. “It sounds to me like a situation that will be settled in court,” she said.

Veseth, a Camarillo resident, said he has no idea what prompted the lawsuit. “I guess it was the Anita Hill thing,” he said, referring to the University of Oklahoma law professor whose sexual harassment allegations briefly threatened the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

He said the women approached him recently seeking a settlement before filing the lawsuit.

“I guess they’re looking for extra dollars,” he said.

“It’s not fair. I was very good to them. I don’t know what has happened to the world.”

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, has been assigned to Judge Barbara A. Lane.