Former Filner staffer asks for $1.48 million in damages

Irene McCormack Jackson, the former communications director who accused former mayor Bob Filner of sexual harrasment, estimates the emotional and personal injuries she suffered at the hands of Filner to be $1.48 million.

In an October 17 statement of damages, McCormack Jackson's lawyer Gloria Allred split the alleged damages into categories.

The first, and largest amount, were so-called general damages that she suffered working under Filner. Those damages, which included "emotional distress, pain and suffering," amount to $950,000. Her estimated loss of earnings from the ordeal is said to be $11,000; her future loss of earnings is valued at $450,000. Adding to the statement of damages is reimbursement for treatment, to the tune of $70,000.

McCormack Jackson was the first woman to publicly accuse Filner of lewd behavior. She alleged that the former congressman and newly elected mayor often got close and way too personal, telling her he wanted to see her naked, begging for kisses, and suggested that she would better serve the mayor on the job if she came to work sans underwear.

Her eventual lawsuit, as well as numerous additional complaints from other women, was the driving force behind Filner's resignation and his eventual guilty plea to false imprisonment and two counts of misdemeanor battery. One of those two battery charges was from a 72-year-old woman who, as reported by the Reader on July 14, said Filner forced a kiss on her during a monthly meet-and-greet.

As a result of his resignation deal, city attorney Jan Goldsmith has agreed to defend Filner in McCormack Jackson's lawsuit. In September, Goldsmith's office submitted a general denial of the charges in court, stating that McCormack Jackson "was not subjected to unwelcome, harassing conduct by Defendant based on her gender or sex" and that the "harassing conduct alleged by Plaintiff was not sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of Plaintiffs employment at the City and create a hostile or abusive work environment on the basis of sex."

A trial hearing is scheduled for January of next year.

Gloria Allred's office declined to comment when asked why the filing took so long to post and whether she and her client have been in settlement talks.

(updated 11/22 11:05 a.m.)