Kimberly Wilson and Brandi Bull filed a lawsuit against their employer, the city of Rowlett, after alleging they endured sexual harassment and a hostile work place, and were then fired last year after they complained. Wilson had served as the city's chief financial officer and Bull had worked in the human resources department.
John Murray had been the HR director until he retired in May 2015. An independent investigator hired by the city recommended they fire Murray, but he retired to avoid being canned, the lawsuit alleges.
Murray, according to the lawsuit, "would make comments about staff members' breasts and buttocks. Mr. Murray would often tell people that he hired his staff based on their 8x10 pictures. Mr. Murray would walk around with no shirt on and would ask his staff, including Ms. Bull, to touch his pecs and biceps. There were even times when Mr. Murray asked Ms. Bull about her personal sex life."
Murray also allegedly gave a promotion and raise to an employee he had an affair with, according to the suit.
"Issues and concerns were voiced among staff and despite the entire city office knowing about the affair, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, ethics and conflicts of interest, this dysfunctional situation was never addressed," the lawsuit notes. "Every day, Ms. Bull lived in fear of retaliation, as Mr. Murray stated several times that he would 'rip the heart out of anyone that crossed him with his bare hands.'"
Last month, a law firm representing the city of Rowlett asked the court to dismiss Wilson's and Bull's lawsuit, Star Local Media reports. Attorneys for the women, in turn, asked the court to reject the request for dismissal.