Former House speaker approved settlement in sexual harassment

Former House Speaker Jeff Hickman approved in his last days in that position the confidential settlement to a former legislative assistant who claimed she was wrongfully terminated for reporting sexual harassment, newly released records showed Thursday.

Hickman said Thursday night the benefit of settling in many instances is avoiding a lengthy trial and significant attorney fees that “would be far more expensive than a settlement might be.”

“I can’t talk specifically about this case,” Hickman said by phone from Colorado where he has been skiing with his family

Hollie Anne Bishop and her attorneys were paid $44,500 in state funds on Nov. 22 to resolve her claim to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, records show.

Bishop, 28, complained Rep. Dan Kirby, 58, began sexually harassing her shortly after she started working for him in January 2015. She complained she was fired by the House without explanation on Nov. 20, 2015, in retaliation for reporting the harassment.

Both her accusation and the payments have sparked widespread public outrage. A Tulsa activist and a former legislator who had clashes with Kirby, R-Tulsa, have called for him to resign.

The outside attorney hired by the House to handle the claim also said taxpayer money actually was saved by the settlement since a federal lawsuit was avoided. The attorney, Courtney K. Warmington, said the claim was settled in private mediation.

The attorney said the House and Bishop “had a different view as to what occurred.”

“This ... is typical of almost every alleged wrongful termination claim and ... the reason why it is expensive to litigate such claims,” Warmington said Thursday. “The matter was settled under the authority of the previous House speaker and House administration with no admission of wrongdoing by anyone.

“Doing so avoided not only the costs of litigation, which would have far exceeded the settlement amount, but also the time and attention it would (have) taken for both sides to have been involved in protracted federal litigation.”

A memo released Thursday to The Oklahoman shows the House chief clerk directed the House comptroller on Nov. 17 to process the payments. The House chief clerk, Jan Harrison, wrote Hickman approved the confidential settlement agreement and general release document on Nov. 16.

Hickman’s last day was a few days later. Hickman, R-Fairview, could not run for re-election because of term limits.

Warmington disputed that the matter was settled in secret. Critics have said there was a cover-up, because most House members were never told about the accusation or payments.

“It displays how the House rules have to be modified so the members are aware of everything going on,” said former Rep. Mike Reynolds, who called for Kirby to resign before January. “It was a secret.”

Warmington did acknowledge Thursday that Kirby was not even aware of the settlement negotiation.

Bishop was paid $28,414.20. Her Edmond attorneys were paid $16,085.80.

Rep. Scott Inman, the House Democratic leader, has called a news conference for Friday to discuss issues surrounding the payments.

We the People Oklahoma leader Marq Lewis on Wednesday called for Kirby to immediately resign.

Kirby, who was first elected in 2008, has not responded to repeated requests for comment. He is not married and has two daughters.