A Niagara County assistant District Attorney has sued District Attorney Michael Violante, alleging sexual harassment.
Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Donatello is still on the county payroll, although there is some dispute about whether that includes still working as a prosecutor. There is also a dispute as to whether or not she was fired and re-hired on one day nearly two-years ago.
In a federal lawsuit, she claims sexual harassment against her and other women in the office and that she is underpaid, compared to a senior male prosecutor.
This whole case follows an earlier proceeding before the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saying she was treated unfairly compared to the male prosecutor.
County Attorney Claude Joerg is adamantly denying the allegations and says the county and District Attorney Violante will be cleared by the time the case is over with.
In a written statement, the county attorney says Donatello has been treated fairly and the District Attorney's office puts women in leadership positions and pays them for that.
Violante isn't talking, nor is Donatello lawyer Andrew Fleming.
