ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997 TAG: 9701170082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
An administrator at National Business College is suing the school and its president, Frank Longaker, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation she says was caused by her refusal to sleep with him.
Lisa Meredith, 39, the Salem school's vice president for operations, has been on medical leave since October because of symptoms caused by the retaliation, according to a lawsuit she filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
Longaker, who said he was not aware of the lawsuit until contacted by reporters Thursday, referred calls to his attorney, Tammy Finley. Finley also had not seen the suit, but said she believes "there is no basis for any type of complaint" and said Longaker will "vigorously defend" himself.
The suit claims that Longaker first propositioned Meredith during a business trip to Washington, D.C., last June and continued to pressure her for sex after she said no. The suit charges both sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
By September, the suit alleges, Longaker began to harass her at work, criticize her in front of her subordinates and refuse to speak to her directly.
Longaker is president, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the for-profit college, which offers diploma, associate and baccalaureate degrees at eight campuses.
Longaker, who is 49 and married, was an independent candidate for the state Senate in 1991.
Meredith's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and attorney's fees. Her attorney, Terry Grimes, said since she took leave in October there have been "no meaningful efforts at reconciliation."
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB