Robinson Denies Lawsuit Claims

Former USC football coach John Robinson denied charges of sexual harassment made by a former administrative assistant in a lawsuit involving a pay dispute.

Norma Navarro filed a civil suit against USC, Robinson and another athletic department official Dec. 24 in Los Angeles County Superior Court that includes allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination, unequal pay and wrongful termination.

Navarro, who worked for Robinson for more than two years before being fired last year, claims she was paid less than a male co-worker because of her gender and that she was not appropriately compensated for overtime work.

The suit also alleges that during negotiations with university officials, Robinson “suggested that if Ms. Navarro would have dinner with [him] and/or capitulate to past sexual suggestions or suggestions to be made at dinner, that he could arrange for her employment terms to be fair and equitable, and consistent with her male counterparts.”

Robinson’s “demeanor, tone of voice and innuendo . . . was consistent with his past behavior of sexually harassing and suggestive behavior toward Ms. Navarro,” the complaint said.

“I deny those charges,” Robinson said Monday, calling one allegation in the complaint “outlandish.”

Although the pay dispute is more than a year old, Robinson said he learned of the harassment accusation only around Jan. 1, after the suit was filed.

“I was obviously surprised,” he said. “The thing was a financial thing. . . . It was over equal pay and equal responsibility. Sexual harassment--that had not come up.”

University counsel Bob Lane said the dispute was not a factor in the university’s decision to replace Robinson as coach Dec. 17, after a 6-5 season, and that he was unaware of any allegations of harassment against Robinson before the lawsuit was filed.

Navarro’s attorney, Diana P. Scott, said the harassment allegation was first made in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in early December.

“The harassment allegation was made to the EEOC and we advised the university of it relatively recently,” Scott said. “[Navarro] was hoping to work out the pay issue independent of litigation but the university was not interested. When you file a complaint, you add every issue.”

Navarro, who did not respond to an interview request, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. She contends that in her work as USC’s football administrative director, her pay and benefits should have been commensurate with those of Joe Hubbard, director of football operations.

Navarro requested and received a university review of the pay issue in October 1996, and since has filed claims with the California Labor Commission as well as the EEOC.

Navarro, who sought $78,000 in back overtime pay, has been paid $11,000 by USC, which eventually agreed to reclassify her position.

But according to Scott and portions of the complaint, Navarro was fired last year after reading a document left on Robinson’s desk that her pay--then in the high $30,000 range--was still slightly less than Hubbard’s. Navarro confronted Robinson and Associate Athletic Director Steven Lopes--who is named in the suit because of his supervisory role but is not accused of harassment--and was fired shortly thereafter, according to the complaint.

Lane disputed that account but would not comment on why Navarro was fired.

“We have been in discussions with Ms. Navarro regarding her situation at the university,” Lane said. “We have been communicating with her counsel.”

Times staff writer Greg Sandoval contributed to this story.