News Notes: Harassment Complaint Used As A Pretext To Terminate Employee May Cost Employer $3.4 Million

Loren Peterson, the former president of financial printer Bowne of Los Angeles, was fired after allegedly admitting he violated the company’s sexual harassment policy. The incident involved comments he was accused of making while dancing with secretary Maria Gonzales on a company-sponsored trip to Club Med. But Peterson charged that the company used this as an excuse to break his employment contract because it had hired a new sales manager who was promised Peterson’s job. And although Gonzales allegedly didn’t want to file a complaint, the new sales manager urged her to do so. Peterson convinced a Los Angeles jury that Bowne didn’t have good cause to terminate him and was awarded $3.4 million. Bowne said it will appeal.