THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 17, 1994 TAG: 9408170396
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The whistle-blower in the Tailhook scandal participated in a leg-shaving episode the night before she says she was groped by drunken aviators, the Las Vegas Hilton alleges.
The Hilton made the allegation in court papers filed Monday in federal court in response to a lawsuit brought by former Navy Lt. Paula Coughlin.
Coughlin and several other women are suing the Tailhook Association and the hotel where the organization of Marine and Naval aviators held their raucous 1991 convention.
Coughlin has denied all allegations that she participated in any wrongdoing at the convention, and the Defense Department has already cleared her.
In court papers, the Hilton said Navy Lt. Rolando Diaz claims to have shaved Coughlin's legs on Friday, Sept. 6, 1991, while she was in her Navy uniform. The Hilton said Diaz stated under oath that a ``plastered'' Coughlin returned to a party later that night wearing a miniskirt and tank top.
Coughlin has said under oath that she did not attend the party Friday night.
Diaz said in his sworn statement that Coughlin ``paid'' for his services by signing his ``Leg Shave '91'' poster on a hotel suite wall. Hotel lawyers want a handwriting expert to determine if the message, ``You made me see God. The PA Coughlin,'' was written by Coughlin.
Coughlin's lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 12.
Coughlin, 32, was an admiral's aide when she claimed she was sexually assaulted at the Tailhook convention. More than 80 women later claimed that they, too, were fondled as they were forced down a gantlet of drunken revelers.
Coughlin resigned from the Navy in February. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Coughlin
KEYWORDS: TAILHOOK ASSAULT U.S. NAVY
SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT
by CNB