Suit by Ex-Leisure World Worker Claims Harassment

A former Leisure World employee has filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and discrimination by a top official of the company that operates the sprawling residential community.

Roberta A. McNiel’s suit names the Lake Forest-based Professional Community Management Inc., which runs Leisure World, and Senior Vice President and General Manager Russell L. Disbro as defendants. McNiel, 40, who was the financial services director for the corporation until her dismissal in May, 1993, filed the lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court on Jan. 14.

Disbro and his lawyer, Stanley E. Tobin, as well as other corporation officials could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

In the lawsuit, McNiel, who joined the corporation in July, 1985, as accounts manager, accused Disbro of sexually harassing her and of breaking a policy not to fire an employee without reasonable cause.

In addition, the defendants are accused of fraud and deceit.

McNiel’s lawyer, Eric Lampel, said his client was a “thoroughly professional” woman with a high-powered position who was fired “because she wouldn’t play ball. . . . She would not submit to (Disbro’s) sexual advances.”