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White's Legal Fees Could Cost County $100,000

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

Updated: 05/31/2008 12:17 am

TAMPA - Hillsborough County taxpayers could be on the hook for $100,000 or more to defend the county in a sexual harassment lawsuit involving Commissioner Kevin White.

White has been accused by his former aide, Alyssa Ogden, of making unwanted sexual advances toward her during the seven months she worked in his office. White fired Ogden in November, saying it was for poor job performance.

County commissioners will be asked to approve the hiring of attorney Claire Saady, who has a Lutz law firm that specializes in labor and employment law. The county previously hired Saady to represent White in Ogden's sexual harassment claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
County Attorney Renee Lee said it is hard for county lawyers to represent a sitting commissioner.

"It very difficult to represent a commissioner individually and represent the county as a whole when that person is part of the board we represent," she said.

Lee also said that since Saady already is defending White with the EEOC, it makes sense for her to continue representing the commissioner in the lawsuit.

"We think her knowledge and experience on this case and the continuity she brings to it is important," Lee said.

White declined to comment Friday.

The agenda item commissioners are being asked to approve Wednesday cautions that legal fees may exceed $100,000. Lee said that figure is a "worst-case scenario."

"We're hoping to get the suit dismissed against the county as soon as possible," Lee said. "But we want to make the board aware as soon as possible so they understand the possibility there could be lengthy litigation, and that's our outside, ballpark figure on how much it would cost."

In her lawsuit, Ogden said she accompanied White on a trip to Atlanta within days of being hired by him in April 2007. She said White asked her to share a bed and later repeatedly asked for kisses and to give him "a chance."

White denies the allegations, calling Ogden a "disgruntled employee."

The county has footed the bill before for county commissioners accused of wrongdoing.

In 2006, commissioners agreed to reimburse nearly $8,000 in legal expenses then-Commissioner Ronda Storms incurred defending herself against a state ethics commission inquiry that year.

Activist Marilyn Smith filed complaints with the ethics commission and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement saying Storms misused her position and committed official misconduct by contacting a former building official and asking him to delay opening a Valrico bikini bar.

The state agencies concluded that the county charter did not prohibit Storms' actions and that she did not receive any personal gain from her actions.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com

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