Latest news with #City-County
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The investigation into Hogsett's handling of harassment claims is over. What the firm found
An independent investigation into Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett's response to alleged harassment by his former chief of staff Thomas Cook found that the city didn't break any laws in its response to those complaints, but raised new questions about the end of Cook's tenure as chief of staff back in 2020. Chicago-based law firm Fisher Phillips' investigation found that Cook was allowed to stay on as chief of staff for 68 days following the city's 2020 investigation that found Cook had violated city policy by having another relationship with a subordinate. The law firm said that time period warrants further investigation. The overall finding from the law firm is that Hogsett's administration acted within the law during three investigations conducted in 2017, 2020 and 2023 as the result of Cook's alleged behavior. IndyStar reported last year that three women alleged that Cook sexually harassed them while he was their supervisor, and Cook engaged in another consensual relationship with a subordinate employee. One of the women alleging harassment against Cook also said that he sexually assaulted her. "While complainants 1 and 2 challenge the existence, timing, and integrity of the investigations into their raised complaints, the response by Mayor Hogsett and his administration was legally sufficient and reasonable under the circumstances," according to the law firm's final report. However, the report noted that while the mayor's decision to allow Cook to resign as opposed to face termination was "not inconsistent with the law," the fact that Cook had knowingly violated a prior directive against having relationships with employees "would reasonably cause the City-County's decision to be questioned." In addition, the law firm noted that "Some individuals interviewed during this investigation shared their perception that (Cook) was given an opportunity to use the period from November 2, 2020, through December 30, 2020, to position himself for personal gain by negotiating contracts for his own benefit," according to the report. "We also recommend (the city) identifies action steps the City-County can take to minimize potential for City-County employees to negotiate contracts for personal gain while employed at the City-County or for the 12-months following their departure," according to the firm. Several council members on the investigative committee - including Democratic committee Chair Christa Carlino - said they felt there was a difference between the administration's legal obligations and its ethical ones. "Just because something's perfectly legal, doesn't make it right," Carlino said. She said the council should look further into Cook's departure from the city in 2020. Fisher Phillips also recommended that the city dissolve its current human resources structure in favor of an independent one, as well as appoint an independent inspector-general, in its presentation of a final report at the Indianapolis City-County Council's investigative committee on May 29 after a months-long investigation. Fisher Phillips' attorney Danielle Kays said 12 people were interviewed over the course of the investigation, including Hogsett and two women who said they were harassed by Cook. Kays said the firm reached out to Cook multiple times and received no response. Cook previously apologized for his conduct in a statement to IndyStar last year. He has not been charged with a crime. The meeting was tense and emotionally charged. At one point, Carlino recessed the meeting as Lauren Roberts, Hogsett's former deputy campaign manager, who was on speaker phone, pleaded with Carlino to get a copy of the report, which she had not received even as the law firm presented their findings about her case to the public. "This entire thing has been torture," Roberts said. "I'm sitting here being dissected in public." Carlino said no one from the council or public — besides its general council — had access to the report before it was presented tonight by the law firm. "I know the wait has been excruciating for those survivors," Carlino said. Hogsett said in a statement after the report presentation that "the findings are clear that the earlier investigations and resulting sanctions were handled appropriately and confidentially," though clarified he hadn't had time to read the report in full. "It remains crucial that the city has the best system in place for reporting, investigating, and dealing with harassment of any kind, which is why I will work with the City-County Council on how these recommendations may further strengthen efforts to create a safer, better workplace for everyone throughout the city's operations," Hogsett said. The City-County Council launched an investigative committee last year to probe Hogsett's response to the alleged harassment by Cook. IndyStar reported in 2024 that Cook faced sexual harassment and assault claims by three women who worked under Cook over the course of a decade. The sexual harassment allegations in Mayor Hogsett's administration: What you need to know Cook also had a relationship with another subordinate employee while he was serving as chief of staff, which prompted him to be asked to resign from the administration back in 2020. Two of the women have alleged that Hogsett didn't handle the allegations properly. Roberts, for example, has said that Hogsett didn't respond to her when she reached out about Cook's alleged treatment of her during the campaign, and that she was never interviewed as part of any investigation over the conduct. Hogsett previously apologized to women who say they were harmed by Cook, but has also defended his response. This story will be updated. Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@ Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here's what law firm found on Hogsett's response to sexual harassment
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Investigation on Hogsett's response to harassment is done. Here's what the law firm found
An independent investigation into Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett's response to alleged harassment by his former chief of staff Thomas Cook found that the city didn't break any laws in its response to those complaints, but raised new questions about the end of Cook's tenure as chief of staff back in 2020. Chicago-based law firm Fisher Phillips' investigation found that Cook was allowed to stay on as chief of staff for 68 days following the city's 2020 investigation that found Cook had violated city policy by having another relationship with a subordinate. The law firm said that time period warrants further investigation. The overall finding from the law firm is that Hogsett's administration acted within the law during three investigations conducted in 2017, 2020 and 2023 as the result of Cook's alleged behavior. IndyStar reported last year that three women alleged that Cook sexually harassed them while he was their supervisor, and Cook engaged in another consensual relationship with a subordinate employee. One of the women alleging harassment against Cook also said that he sexually assaulted her. "While complainants 1 and 2 challenge the existence, timing, and integrity of the investigations into their raised complaints, the response by Mayor Hogsett and his administration was legally sufficient and reasonable under the circumstances," according to the law firm's final report. However, the report noted that while the mayor's decision to allow Cook to resign as opposed to face termination was "not inconsistent with the law," the fact that Cook had knowingly violated a prior directive against having relationships with employees "would reasonably cause the City-County's decision to be questioned." In addition, the law firm noted that "Some individuals interviewed during this investigation shared their perception that (Cook) was given an opportunity to use the period from November 2, 2020, through December 30, 2020, to position himself for personal gain by negotiating contracts for his own benefit," according to the report. "We also recommend (the city) identifies action steps the City-County can take to minimize potential for City-County employees to negotiate contracts for personal gain while employed at the City-County or for the 12-months following their departure," according to the firm. Several council members on the investigative committee - including Democratic committee Chair Christa Carlino - said they felt there was a difference between the administration's legal obligations and its ethical ones. "Just because something's perfectly legal, doesn't make it right," Carlino said. She said the council should look further into Cook's departure from the city in 2020. Fisher Phillips also recommended that the city dissolve its current human resources structure in favor of an independent one, as well as appoint an independent inspector-general, in its presentation of a final report at the Indianapolis City-County Council's investigative committee on May 29 after a months-long investigation. Fisher Phillips' attorney Danielle Kays said 12 people were interviewed over the course of the investigation, including Hogsett and two women who said they were harassed by Cook. Kays said the firm reached out to Cook multiple times and received no response. Cook previously apologized for his conduct in a statement to IndyStar last year. He has not been charged with a crime. The meeting was tense and emotionally charged. At one point, Carlino recessed the meeting as Lauren Roberts, Hogsett's former deputy campaign manager, who was on speaker phone, pleaded with Carlino to get a copy of the report, which she had not received even as the law firm presented their findings about her case to the public. "This entire thing has been torture," Roberts said. "I'm sitting here being dissected in public." Carlino said no one from the council or public — besides its general council — had access to the report before it was presented tonight by the law firm. "I know the wait has been excruciating for those survivors," Carlino said. Hogsett said in a statement after the report presentation that "the findings are clear that the earlier investigations and resulting sanctions were handled appropriately and confidentially," though clarified he hadn't had time to read the report in full. "It remains crucial that the city has the best system in place for reporting, investigating, and dealing with harassment of any kind, which is why I will work with the City-County Council on how these recommendations may further strengthen efforts to create a safer, better workplace for everyone throughout the city's operations," Hogsett said. The City-County Council launched an investigative committee last year to probe Hogsett's response to the alleged harassment by Cook. IndyStar reported in 2024 that Cook faced sexual harassment and assault claims by three women who worked under Cook over the course of a decade. The sexual harassment allegations in Mayor Hogsett's administration: What you need to know Cook also had a relationship with another subordinate employee while he was serving as chief of staff, which prompted him to be asked to resign from the administration back in 2020. Two of the women have alleged that Hogsett didn't handle the allegations properly. Roberts, for example, has said that Hogsett didn't respond to her when she reached out about Cook's alleged treatment of her during the campaign, and that she was never interviewed as part of any investigation over the conduct. Hogsett previously apologized to women who say they were harmed by Cook, but has also defended his response. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Employee hurt by exploding toilet at city hall
A bizarre accident involving a toilet happened at the City-County building on Monday morning. It shattered and injured a city employee. It's the same building 11 Investigates has reported on for poor conditions and broken items for months now. >>> 11 Investigates: City of Pittsburgh-owned buildings in shambles Video of the toilet shows the tank shattered with sharp jagged edges of porcelain sticking up. It happened Monday morning on the fifth floor, not far from the Mayor's offices. 11 Investigates obtained the emergency dispatch call. Dispatcher: Along with EMS and the Sheriff's units, requesting a city officer respond in the Mayor's office area. They have a 65-year-old male with a gash to his leg after having a toilet explode. A spokesperson for Mayor Ed Gainey's office told 11 Investigates the employee was injured when a plumbing fixture failed on the toilet. The man reportedly suffered a cut to his leg, but managed to walk to the ambulance for treatment. 'The employee is currently recovering from minor, non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be released from the hospital today,' said a city spokesperson in an email statement to 11 Investigates. 'We're not taken care of our own house,' said City Councilman Anthony Coghill. Coghill said he's relieved the employee wasn't seriously injured. For months now, 11 Investigates has been reporting on the poor conditions at the City-County building, the City Municipal Courts building, and other city-owned facilities. We showed you peeling paint, broken urinals, fountains with mold and elevators that don't work. >>> 11 Investigates Exclusive: Money for broken city elevators used to buy furniture At the Police and Fire Training Academy, instructors and recruits had been without heat for months after the boiler broke. Instructors set up space heaters just to stay warm. >>> 11 Investigates: Pittsburgh police & fire training academy has been without heat for months After 11 Investigates broke the story, the boiler was fixed weeks later, just in time for those single-digit temperatures. Coghill, who's also a contractor, said things need to change, and quickly. 'I notice every crooked shutter and every dripping faucet, I'm afraid to do an in-depth look at all of our facilities because I'm afraid of what I would find,' said Coghill. Coghill added that many city-owned buildings need some serious improvements and upgrades, but he acknowledged that will cost a lot of money, and it may be difficult to accomplish during a lean budget these next couple of years. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
