FALKIRK BID BOSS TO FACE SEX PEST CLAIMS IN COURT
Ex-worker says she was harassed
The businessman bidding to buy Falkirk Football Club has been ordered to appear in court over claims he sexually harassed an employee.
A woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has claimed in a lawsuit that Mark Campbell made repeated unwanted advances towards her when he was her boss at his f irm, Markell Real Estate Group, in New York.
Now Campbel l , 46, has been summoned before judge Ronnie Abrams in the city in February to answer the allegations.
Before then, both the woman and Campbell will be given the chance to resolve their dispute through the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Programme. If that fails, both will have to attend court in person on February 14 to give evidence.
The woman is to ask that her compensation claim be heard before a jury. It is expected that Campbell will ask that the case be thrown out.
Both parties will also be asked what, if any, attempts have been made to settle the dispute.
Records show that a summons for Campbell to appear in court next year was served at his firm’s offices in Manhattan on October 4.
The woman alleges that when she rejected Campbell’s sexual advances, he accused her of stealing and sacked her last year. She claims he asked to buy lingerie for her and made inappropriate remarks about her appearance.
It is further alleged he tried to get her to stay the night in his hotel room.
Lawyers acting for the woman say their client developed severe anxiety and depression over what she described as Campbell’s “unrelenting and escalating sexual advances”.
Campbell was named preferred bidder by Falkirk’s current owners in July and claims he is in pole position to take over the running of the Scottish League One club.
The woman’s legal team have lodged the action against Campbell at the US District Court of New York. It is claimed the harassment began when she went for an interview with Campbell in October 2017.
The woman also alleges Campbell wanted to set up a business with her and offered to fly her to Mexico to spend Thanksgiving with him.
In court papers, the woman further claims Campbell doubled her salary in February last year to $5000 (£4153) a month to get her to “acquiesce to his unwelcome sexual advances”.
Campbell said: “I have been made aware of papers being filed in New York in relation to a situation that arose around two years ago involving a former colleague at one of my business interests in the USA.
“A number of allegations were made by this person and I know those allegations to be completely untrue.
“Should the situation develop, I will defend myself with every means at my disposal and I am confident of proving my innocence.”
The Derek Smith Law Group, which represents the former employee, did not respond to our request for a comment.