Lawyer blasts Reno press conference as pathetic

Update: The lawyer representing two women who have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city of Reno called it "pathetic" for top city officials to now claim they take sexual assault complaints seriously.

Mark Mausert claims the Reno City Attorney Karl Hall tried to cover up a female employee's claim a coworker sexually assaulted her because it could have hurt his defense against the ongoing lawsuit by Deanna Gescheider and Maureen McKissick.

Hall joined Mayor Hillary Schieve, Assistant Police Chief Jason Soto and City Manager Sabra Newby at a press conference Thursday to declare they take sexual assault allegations seriously after a story in the Reno Gazette Journal about the woman's allegations her employment was cut short when she reported the assault.

"It appears they only take it seriously when it blows up in their face," Mausert said. "Then they take it seriously."

More: Woman says Reno covered up her sexual assault complaint

More: City accuses women of concocting sexual harassment complaint to get Clinger fired

More: Reno official resigns after he became embroiled in city's sexual harassment investigation

The woman, whose name the Reno Gazette Journal is withholding because she may be a victim of sexual assault, said in sworn court documents that former revitalization manager Bill Dunne trapped her in his car, exposed himself and demanded she perform a sex act.

Dunne, who denies the allegations, resigned without facing discipline shortly after the woman filed the complaint. The woman, who reported the misconduct in her resignation letter, said she was let go from the city early.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said at the Thursday press conference that she did not know anything about the sexual assault claim until Wednesday evening.

"I saw the kind of confusion and uncertainty which results when people realize they made a big mistake and have exposed their clients to liability," Mausert said.

Original story: In a press conference that lasted less than three minutes Thursday, top city officials said they take a former employee's claims she was sexually assaulted by a co-worker seriously but refused to answer any questions about the city's handling of the incident.

The press conference was called in response to a Reno Gazette Journal story that detailed allegations from a former contract employee that the city cut short her employment when she complained a coworker sexually assaulted her. Her alleged attacker was allowed to resign without facing discipline.

In court documents filed as part of a separate lawsuit against the city, the woman said former revitalization manager Bill Dunne sexually harassed her, making lewd comments and grabbing her breasts. The behavior culminated when he trapped her in his car, exposed himself and demanded she perform a sex act.

Dunne has denied the allegations.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said during the press conference that she only learned of the woman's allegations on Wednesday, the day the RGJ story ran. Councilwoman Neoma Jardon also said she was unaware of the incident.

"Last night I was made aware of sexual assault allegations and I want to make sure that our residents know that we take this extremely seriously at the city of Reno," Schieve said.

She added that she would be "consulting with" Assistant Police Chief Jason Soto, although she didn't specify what she would be consulting with him about.

Last week, Soto confirmed that his department did not conduct any investigation into the woman's allegations. Instead, Reno City Attorney Karl Hall initiated an investigation by an independent third party and the city handled the matter as a personnel issue.

In the court documents, the woman said she was too embarrassed and afraid to file a police report.

During the press conference, Soto said he would work with his department's victim advocate and regional partners to investigate the allegations if the woman wants to file a report now.

"I want to make it abundantly clear that the number one priority is the well-being and confidentiality of the claimant," he said. "We at the RPD take these allegations very seriously."

Hall said city employees encouraged the woman to file a police report "if she believed she was the victim of a crime."

Councilwoman Jenny Brekhus, who did not attend the press conference, said in a tweet that her door is open to any city employee who has a similar complaint.

"I have an open door to any employee who believes their rights were violated or that laws were broken," she said. "Our charter puts a firewall between city council members and employees but this does not pertain in instances of unlawful activities."

City Manager Sabra Newby confirmed to the Reno Gazette Journal that a city employee "made a complaint of sexual assault" against a coworker in November.

Details of the woman's allegations were revealed in court documents filed Monday as part of a lawsuit filed by Deanna Gescheider and Maureen McKissick, which claims the city did not protect them from retaliation after they submitted misconduct complaints against former City Manager Andrew Clinger.

The woman, who the Reno Gazette Journal is not naming because she may be the victim of a sexual assault, said she believes the city tried to cover up Dunne's conduct because of the pending lawsuit by Gescheider and McKissick. Dunne was also accused of threatening Gescheider and making an inappropriate comment to her in that lawsuit.