Lawsuit Claims Sexual Harassment, Wage Violations By State Assemblyman From Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — A former staffer for State Assemb. Joseph DeStefano has sued him, alleging he sexually harassed her in pressuring her into a romantic relationship and also didn’t pay numerous hours of overtime that she worked, according to the lawsuit.

Lynn Zigrosser, who worked as the director of community affairs for DeStefano for 19 months, starting in January 2023, claims DeStefano violated state Labor Law for failing to pay her overtime and minimum wage, and Human Rights Law, which protects employees from quid pro quo sexual harassment, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in October.

Patch has reached out to Zigrosser's attorney, Saul Zabell of Bohemia, for comment.

DeStefano's attorney, Keith Frank of Uniondale, has argued in a motion to dismiss the suit that his client is entitled to qualified immunity against the claims as a state employee, Newsday reported.

He told Patch on Thursday afternoon that the "claims of the plaintiff are denied and we will not litigate this case in the media."

"We will vigorously defend Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano’s reputation in court," he added.

A woman at DeStefano's district office in Medford, who declined to give her name, said there is no comment at this time while the litigation is pending.

DeStefano's biography on the state Assembly's website states that he is married.

Also included in the lawsuit is the State of New York and state Assembly.

Despite Zigrosser's "loyalty and tireless work," DeStefano "took advantage of her by willfully misclassifying her as a salaried exempt employee, in violation of state labor laws" and failed to compensate her, at a rate of time and one-half her regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 in a single week.

"The net effect being that Defendants denied Plaintiff basic rights and entitlements which are guaranteed under NewYork State Labor laws," the lawsuit states.

Zigrosser performed office work, including answering phones and working constituents, as well as managing social media accounts, but was also required to attend after-hours events in Albany and on Long Island, according to the lawsuit.

DiStefano tried to kiss Zigrosser twice before she accepted his advances and entered into a romantic relationship with him, and he announced the relationship to other staffers, the lawsuit states.

Months later, he had become "possessive and controlling" by going through her phone and asking who she was speaking with, and their relationship became hostile due to his lack of control and her availability to see him, and it came to an end, according to the lawsuit.

She was forced to resign the next month, the lawsuit states.