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LOUISIANA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

New Orleans revitalization group accused of allowing sexual harassment

Kansas

A New Orleans 9th Ward revitalization group is being sued for allegedly allowing sexual harassment in the workplace and for retaliating against an employee after she reported the behavior.

Former employee Kendra Clark filed suit against the Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NENA) on Oct. 26 in federal court in New Orleans.

According to the lawsuit, Clark was the target of inappropriate jokes that she felt constituted sexual harassment. She made a formal complaint in May 2009 about the offending behavior and the defendant investigated the incident but no action was taken against the alleged offender.

In June 2009, Clark states she was fired for allegedly taking $116 in petty cash. Clark argues that she did not have access to the locked filing cabinet in which the money was kept and that no real investigation was conducted into who took the money.

In the lawsuit, Clark accuses an employee of spending company money without providing receipts and accuses the executive director of using company money to pay for her husband's vacation.

She argues the defendant's actions constituted unlawful employment practices in violating of Louisiana statutes.

Clark is seeking damages for lost wages, lost employment benefits, mental pain and anguish, physical harm, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life, inconvenience, job search and relocation expenses, punitive damages, court costs, interest and attorney's fees.

She is represented by Alan Kansas of The Law Office of Alan Kansas in Gretna. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10-cv-04089

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