Employee Sues Hoboken Parking Utility for Sexual Harassment

Catherine Stewart, an employee of the Hoboken Parking Utility is suing the Hoboken Parking Utility and her supervisors there for sexual harassment, according to a complaint provided to Patch by attorney Louis Zayas' office. 

Stewart is suing the city for punitive damages, but no exact money amount has been put on the suit, Zayas said.

The complaint has been filed in Superior Court in Jersey City, Zayas said. The lawyer said he is waiting for the complaint back so the city can be served with the suit. He said he expects that to happen this week.

In the suit, Stewart alleges that her supervisor, Hector Mojica, made "obscene and vulgar sexual comments" to her ever since she started work at the HPU in July, 2010. In September Mojico was promoted, which put him in direct control of Stewart's work schedule. Stewart is also suing her other supervisor, Robert Orsini.

Zayas said that Stewart is still working for the Hoboken Parking Utility and plans to stay, "unless the harassment continues."

Stewart is also suing the HPU for unlawful retaliation, negligent supervision, emotional distress as a result of the harassment and a creating a hostile work environment.

The complaint also states that Mojica's comments were also racist in nature. Stewart is an African American woman.

When Stewart turned down her supervisor's sexual advances, the complaint stated, Mojica threatened her employment and to change her shift. Stewart drove a vehicle for the Parking Utility, the complaint stated.

According to the complaint, Mojica threatened to change Stewart's shift, saying "I’ll take you out of the vehicle and put you on the street."

The complaint continued, "he would also make comments such as: 'things are going to change when I become supervisor. Certain people are going to have a hard time.'"

In October Mojica changed Stewart's shift and switched her to walking duty, the complaint stated.

"Due to Hoboken’s culture of intimidation and retaliation, Plaintiff was afraid to complain about the harassment as she feared she would face retaliation for her complaints," the complaint stated.

The complaint alleges that Director of Parking and Transportation Ian Sacs "knew or should have known of the harassment (Stewart) faced."

Sacs said he could not comment on ongoing litigation.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer said that although the city hadn't been served with the suit yet, she takes sexual harassment very seriously. She said all City Hall employees have to complete sexual harassment training and another training session is scheduled.

A meeting to discuss the alleged harassment was scheduled for a Friday in late October, but the meeting was canceled and never rescheduled, the complaint stated.