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Man Suing City For Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination

Posted: 5:07 pm EDT June 1, 2007Updated: 5:12 pm EDT June 1, 2007

There are shocking allegations against a Palm Bay city supervisor. A former employee said she was constantly flashing and using sexually explicit language in front of workers. He said, when he complained, he was fired and is now suing.

It's unusual for a man to file a sexual harassment suit against a female. Usually, it's the other way around. But the man who used to work with her said his boss was so vulgar and inappropriate, he had to take action

Boxes are filled with evidence backing Tom Rolfe's sexual harassment case against the city of Palm Bay. He worked for the city as a meter reader for four years and said he was fired when he complained about his supervisor, Donna Elliot.

"She just dropped her pants, bent over and showed everybody everything," Rolfe said.

Elliot has been with Palm Bay for 15 years. She didn't return Eyewitness News phone calls, Friday, but denied all the allegations in a deposition.

Rolfe's not the only one complaining, though. His attorney has a half-dozen sworn statements from former and current workers who said Elliot acted inappropriately at the office.

A former meter reader said, "She stood on the table and dropped her pants right in front of me." Another testified, "On at least six occasions, Ms. Elliot flashed her breasts at work or mooned employees."

That same worker said he saw Elliot go into an adult store on city time, buy a sex toy and bring it back into the office to show employees. Rolfe was one of them.

"That was the final straw for me," he said.

Rolfe said Elliot gave him extra work after he spoke out and eventually fired him, so he's suing for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

"I don't think they should have people like that running parts of the city," Rolfe said.

The case is set to go to a jury trial in the fall. The state puts a cap on lawsuits against municipalities. The most you can sue for is $100,000. Rolfe also plans to file suit in federal court.

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