Tarrant County Justice Of The Peace Sued For Sexual Harassment
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FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - A former court manager is suing a Tarrant County Justice of the Peace, accusing him of repeatedly forcing her to perform sex acts.
In the 30-page federal lawsuit filed Sunday against Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Russ Casey, the plaintiff claims she was "...forced to perform oral sex on Judge Casey at least 20 times..." in his office between 2009 and 2014.
She also says she had "...sexual intercourse..." with him twice.
When we asked Judge Casey about the lawsuit, he said he hadn't seen it until we showed him.
He also denied the allegations, "It's without merit."
The court documents say the woman claims she complied with Casey's demands because he threatened to fire her if she didn't.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff says when she refused one of the judge's sexual demands in August, 2014, she claims he fired her one week later.
Casey said, "There were some accusations made months ago and they were even proven to be false. Other than that, I'll have to refer you to the attorney."
The former court manager says in the lawsuit she had previously complained to Tarrant County's human resources, but was told "Judge Casey is an elected official, that there's nothing Tarrant County can do."
Terri Moore is a defense attorney who once served as Deputy Chief in the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office and as the First Assistant DA in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.
She says, "It's a very serious allegation, and if it's true, it's horrific."
Moore wonders if the woman called police about Casey.
When asked, the plaintiff's attorney, Andrea Loveless declined comment about whether her client called police.
Moore says, "I wouldn't think any member of any police department or any member of any DA's office would say he's a public official, there's nothing we can do."
The lawsuit also says the former court manager "...provided Tarrant County with a dress and blouse she owned..." that contained Judge Casey's DNA.
When asked if saving evidence proves anything, Moore said, "Saving the evidence proves something happened between them. But it does not suggest that it was coercion."
The plaintiff's attorney, Loveless says her client didn't make the decision to file the lawsuit lightly.
Tarrant County is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. County administrator G.K. Maenius says the county hasn't been served with the lawsuit yet and declined comment
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