California College Settles Sexual Harassment Claim

A former secretary who claimed she was sexually harassed by a former dean at a Southern California college will receive $2.5 million.

The Daily Breeze of Torrance said El Camino College settled a lawsuit with Nyesha Artiaga last month. The community college will pay about a third of the settlement and its insurance company will pay most of the rest. The former dean James Schwartz, will pay $25,000.

Under last month’s settlement Artiaga agreed to quit her job and never to apply for employment with the college again.

In court documents, Artiaga claimed that between 2007 and 2009, Schwartz groped her and threatened to fire her if she refused to have sex with him.

Schwartz said the two had a consensual relationship.