NEWPORT BEACH : Settlement Reached in Harassment Suit

The city has reached a settlement with one of the plaintiffs in the sexual harassment civil suit against former Police Chief Arb Campbell, former Police Capt. Anthony Villa and the city itself, officials announced Thursday.

According to a statement from the city attorney’s office, Shontel Sherwood will receive $25,000, plus another $25,000 to cover her attorney fees and other litigation-related expenses. In return, Sherwood will drop her allegations and her workers’ compensation claim. She retains her job as a police officer.

Neither the city nor Sherwood would comment on the settlement.

The $50,000 will be paid by the city, according to a June, 1993, agreement among the city, Campbell and Villa. The city has agreed to pay for damages resulting from any of the plaintiffs’ lawsuits, including attorney fees and workers’ compensation, unless a jury finds that Campbell and Villa acted with malice. Campbell and Villa were forced to retire from their positions as a part of the 1993 agreement.

Sherwood joined the sexual harassment civil suit on Dec. 1, 1992. At that time, she said: “I have no doubt in my mind that I was ridiculed and accused of ill-conceived acts by refusing to allow sexual harassment and a hostile work environment to exist.”

The city, Campbell and Villa admit no wrongdoing under this week’s settlement.

Since the allegations surfaced in September, 1992, the city of Newport Beach has paid $275,000 to 11 current and former female employees of the Police Department to settle their claims. This week’s move leaves seven women on the list of plaintiffs.

The most serious of the pending allegations accuse Villa of unwanted touching and lewd comments, while Campbell allegedly tolerated Villa’s behavior. In general, the women also accuse the former police brass of denying them promotions because they are female and pressuring them to socialize off duty with male officers.

“We want to put this chapter behind us--the sooner the better,” said current Police Chief Robert J. McDonell. He said Sherwood “is a fine officer working in traffic division as an accident investigator. . . . I realize that it is difficult for somebody still on active duty with the department to go through this.”

City Manager Kevin J. Murphy said attorneys for both sides are taking depositions in preparation for the civil trial that is scheduled to begin next February.