From Staff Reports
Record (Greensboro, NC)
Copyright 2001 News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
January 19, 2001, Friday, High Edition
(FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C.) -- A woman who claimed that Sheriff Ron Barker knew an officer was sexually harassing her but did little to stop it agreed to settle the case Wednesday for $150,000.
Two years ago, Donna S. Carter won her lawsuit against the department’s former chief deputy, Robert Blakely, who she worked with at the department in the 1990s.
A jury awarded her $260,000 in damages.
Last month, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict and the damages. The federal appeals court also ruled that Barker could be tried on Carter’s claims. Barker declined to comment on the settlement. One of his attorneys, Allan Gitter, said Barker wanted to fight the lawsuit but the county’s insurance company decided to settle the case.
The insurance company, United National Insurance Co., wanted to avoid potentially costly legal fees and a larger monetary judgment if Barker lost in court, Gitter said.
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