Woman says she was harassed by N.Y. state employee

NEW YORK » An upstate New York woman struggling to find a place to live and a job after ending an abusive relationship said a state employee helped her, only to use it as an excuse to sexually harass and assault her, and the governor’s office knew and did nothing to stop it, according to a lawsuit.

The governor’s office the allegations.

Lisa Marie Cater, 51, says in court papers filed Saturday in federal court that she wrote to the Empire State Development Corp. in the fall of 2015 seeking help, and then-Regional President William “Sam” Hoyt wrote her back directly saying he could help her find a job. He secured a position for her at the department of motor vehicles denies in Buffalo, she says.

She says he began to sexually harass and assault her; he turned up at her home uninvited where he kissed and groped her, according to her complaint. He constantly sent her sexually harassing text messages and emails, including a nude photo of himself asking: “Do I look tan?”

An attorney for Hoyt has denied Cater’s allegations.

“Sam has previously acknowledged and expressed regret for a short term, consensual relationship with Ms. Cater,” said attorney Terrance Connors. “These new allegations are totally inconsistent with her original story and contradicted by her own email and text message correspondence. If she persists with this lawsuit, we will seek dismissal at the earliest stage.”