County Is Sued by Ex-Official Over Firing

The former director of Orange County’s Office on Aging has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was wrongfully fired and that a county supervisor sexually harassed her.

Pamela Mokler was fired in August after serving three years as executive director of the county Office on Aging. In a suit filed last week in Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Mokler alleges that she was fired because she accused superiors of committing fraud by failing to tell the state about changes in her job responsibilities.

Mokler, 46, also alleges that Supervisor Chris Norby harassed her during a visit to his office last year and at a political event. She said Norby pulled her against him during a meeting in his office in March and again at a victory party for Supervisor Bill Campbell and commented on her dress and physical appearance. She is seeking unspecified damages.

A county spokeswoman declined to discuss Mokler’s allegations. “It’s our policy not to discuss personnel issues or pending litigation,” Diane Thomas said.

Norby, 54, denied the allegations Wednesday, saying that Mokler fabricated them. “I’m outraged and baffled. I certainly never harassed her,” he said. “She’s obviously grasping at straws and is trying to get back at the county and is going after me because I’m a public figure.”

In April, Mokler was accused in a lawsuit of making inappropriate and abusive comments to subordinates. That lawsuit is pending.