Massachusetts Court To Pay $425k To End Sexual Harassment Suit

BOSTON — The Massachusetts state trial court has agreed to pay $425,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former court worker who says a judge pressured her for oral sex.

Judge Thomas Estes resigned in 2018 after being suspended by the state's Supreme Judicial Court when Tammy Cagle, a social worker, said Estes pressured her into performing oral sex on him then pushing her out of the drug court when she tried to end the relationship, prosecutors said Thursday.

Cagle and Estes worked together on the Pittsfield drug court, and Estes admitted to having an affair with her, including sexual encounters at the courthouse.

But Estes argues their relationship was consensual and denied harassing Cagle or having any influence over her losing her job, prosecutors say.

"I feel gratitude toward the trial court because they validated that something very bad happened to me and they apologized for it," Cagle said in an interview. "It was a struggle — going up against a powerful person — but I feel good that I can be an example for other women. I want women to know they can navigate the system."

The Thursday settlement will resolve Cagle's state lawsuit, but a federal lawsuit still stands.

Patch reached out to Estes' lawyer Nancy Pelletier, who denied comment, citing the ongoing federal case.

Estes served as the first justice of the Eastern Hampshire District Court in Western Massachusetts and was nominated to the bench by former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014.