Guard Awarded $150,000 in Sex Harassment Suit

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury on Friday awarded $150,000 to a female security officer who accused a high-ranking official at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History of sexual harassment.

“I am happy that someone finally listened to me,” Julia Williams said. The case was heard across the hall from the higher-profile sexual harassment case against City Councilman Nate Holden.

Williams accused Hugh Crooks, then chief of the museum’s safety police, of grabbing her breast on one occasion, making lewd comments and once pushing her onto a bed. The harassment all took place in 1992, she alleged.

She said that immediately after she complained to Crooks’ superior, she was reassigned--in retaliation--to the county’s George C. Page Museum.

“The jury sent a message to L.A. County that it had failed in its responsibility to protect Julia Williams from both sexual harassment and retaliation after she complained of it,” said Gloria Allred, her attorney.

“Government should set an example of what the law requires,” Allred said.

Allred and Williams’ trial attorney, Nathan Goldberg, complained that Crooks never was disciplined, but in fact was promoted to become the museum’s head of administrative services.

Crooks could not be reached Friday. But during the 10-day trial, he denied the allegations.

Williams, a safety officer for six years, alleged that in July, 1992, Crooks drove her home after they were at a class together and attempted to kiss her. The next month, she alleged that he grabbed her breast and told her that he wanted to have sex.

In September, 1992, she alleged, she was guarding the museum director’s home when Crooks pushed her onto the bed, put his hands under her clothing and fondled her. When another officer arrived, the attack stopped, she said.

Christiana Hills, the museum’s director of communications, said Williams was reassigned at her request--an assertion that Williams’ attorneys disputed.

Hills said the county counsel and affirmative action compliance offices conducted investigations and found that the allegations were unsubstantiated.

“Obviously, it was not the verdict that we expected,” said Principal Deputy County Counsel Alan Terakawa. “I don’t agree with the verdict, but the jury decides what the jury decides.”

Williams, 40, of Corona Hills, still works as a safety officer but is now assigned to the Hall of Administration.

“As a result of my victory, I hope that women will understand how important it is for us . . . to stand up for ourselves, especially in the face of old-boy systems where some men . . . will attempt to cover up for their buddies,” she said.

Allred said the verdict “underscores the fact that employees need not leave their job in order to sue their employer and that juries will award damages even if the employee has not lost any pay or been fired.”

The verdict was the latest blow to the museum, whose former chief deputy director pleaded no contest in September to charges that he embezzled $2.1 million from the museum and its foundation.