Another lawsuit: LMPD sergeant says she was harassed by 2 superiors at 'adults-only' pool party
For the third time in a week, a sexual harassment claim within LMPD has come to light.
In a new lawsuit, Sgt. Lauren Carby accuses two of her superiors of acting grossly inappropriate.
One of the people she's accusing is Maj. Shannon Lauder, whose own sexual harassment claim last week led to the suspension of police chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel.
The lawsuit claims Shannon Lauder made several sexual comments at work, including about her husband, Jeff, who also works for LMPD.
Carby alleges while she was a detective for the domestic violence unit in 2020, the couple hosted an "adults-only" pool party, in which the whole unit was invited, and while there, Jeff Lauder pursued her.
"He [Lt. Jeff Lauder] propositioned her [Sgt. Carby] for sex. He also propositioned her for a sexual relationship," said Carby's attorney, Sara Collins.
Carby claims Shannon was openly kissing another officer, and when she disappeared, Jeff made sexual advances toward her, saying he had Shannon's blessing to do so because they were in an open marriage.
"Major Shannon Lauter was okay with it and my client was horrified and stunned," said Collins.
The lawsuit says Carby repeatedly denied Jeff's advances.
"Shannon ends up leaving the room and Jeff came in and tried to kiss her. She pushed him away and she got out of there," said Collins.
It also claims that after the pool party, she was pressured by another major to report what happened that day. A Professional Standards Unit investigation was opened, Carby said, and she participated.
The lawsuit claims the major violated Carby's confidentiality on the matter.
The lawsuit said in the aftermath of it all, Carby faced emotional distress and was passed up for promotions for which she was qualified.
"Lauren realized that the last years would have been tremendously easier for her professionally if she had simply slept with Jeff Lauder in 2020," the lawsuit says.
비바카지노 Viva reached out to an attorney for the Lauders who said:
"The Lauders have dedicated their careers to honorable policing within LMPD for 16 years. The timing of Carby맥스카지노s lawsuit appears opportunistic, based on other recent sexual harassment claims against LMPD. Her allegations are unfounded. LMPD has improperly investigated this internally going back years, as cited by a recent ruling that stems from a suit filed by the FOP. This case is an example of a botched internal investigation that continued based on rumor and inuendo."
The mayor confirmed Thursday that the officer Shannon Lauder accused of sexual harassment last week, Major Brian Kuriger, oversaw the Professional Standards Unit investigation in her pool party.
"He [Kuriger] was overseeing the investigation into the allegations that were made public today," Greenberg said.
Hear Greenberg's full statements below:
The other lawsuit that was revealed this week came out on Tuesday. Officer Christine Silk accused two different training officers of harassment. Read more below:
This story will be updated.