Sharon Lewis
Former LSU Associate AD Sharon Lewis’ 50-million dollar sexual harassment, race-based, and gender-based retaliation lawsuit against LSU is underway. On the first day of testimony, a witness claimed LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson made unwanted sexual advances against her when she was an intern in the football recruiting office. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne is covering the trial at the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge.
“He surprised her with a very as she’s termed hard hard, kiss to the lips and she turned and immediately reported it to her boss Sharon Lewis,” said Horne.
The testimony came from Nikole Jessie. Horne says recalling the 2013 incident made Jessie break down and cry on the stand.
“Sharon asked her if she wanted to report to the police at that moment, she said she did not, she said do you want to follow a report with LSU, she said she did not, she was afraid of losing her job,” said Horne.
Horne says Jessie testified that another student employee lost her job after complaining about being sexually harassed and did not want to lose her job. Horne says she described receiving inappropriate gifts from Wilson.
“Wilson contacted her on her cellphone between five and ten times after hours asking her out to dinner, also offered her special gifts like handbags and purses and things like that which she refused to accept,” said Horne.
Lewis is suing the university claiming her attempts to report sexual misconduct against student interns involving former LSU Coach Les Miles and Wilson resulted in a hostile work environment for her and it also impacted her pay.
An attorney representing LSU said in opening arguments that Lewis has no evidence of this drama and is only attempting to profit from a coaching change situation when 40 people lost their jobs.
Sexual harassment allegations against Wilson first surfaced in March 2022 and LSU said at that time they were unaware of these allegations and there is no evidence they were reported to LSU.
A nine-person jury is hearing the case and testimony is expected to last until December 22nd.
Horne said he expects there will be more witnesses recounting inappropriate sexual advances by Wilson.
To read Horne’s full report of the first day of testimony, go to tigerrag.com.
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