A report form the San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the Golden State Warriors have settled their sexual harassment lawsuit against them from a former employee involving former player Monta Ellis.
Erika Smith, a former community relations director for the team, agreed to a deal that ended litigation of a case in which she claimed, among other things, that Monta Ellis sent her a picture of his penis in a text message.
Smith was seeking monetary damages in the lawsuit in which she also claimed that team owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber fostered an improper sexual atmosphere within the organization and attempted to cover up Ellis' actions.
Details of the settlement agreement were not revealed Thursday as Smith's attorney said he was not allowed to discuss details. Neither team representatives nor Ellis' agent could be reached for comment.
"All I am allowed to say is the case is dismissed; you have to read into that what you want," said Burton Boltuch, Smith's attorney. "When you settle a case, you always dismiss it."
Boltuch said discussions with team attorneys about the lawsuit began soon after Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in March.
Ownership blamed Smith for initiating the texts with Ellis, offering her a cash payment to resign, she claimed. It was noted in the lawsuit that she refused and was fired several months later after she notified team management that a reporter had called her asking questions about the text messages.
I'm sure everyone involved is glad that this is over.
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