CHARLES CITY, IA - A former paralegal is filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Floyd County.
The suit was filed by Theresa Farmer on Thursday. Court documents show that Floyd County is the defendant.
In the often graphic documents, Farmer says how former Floyd County Attorney Jesse Marzen sexually harassed her.
According to documents, the harassment began shortly after Farmer was hired as a paralegal.
On at least three occasions, Farmer claims that Marzen said to her, "At least you're getting laid, I'm not. I can't wait for that f****** kid to be born. This is hell." At the time, Marzen's wife was pregnant.
Among the complaints are that Marzen told Farmer that she looked "sexy" or "hot" and that he would frequently scream and intimidate her. She even claims on one occasion Marzen touched her breasts.
The documents also show Marzen harassing Farmer's co-worker Lisa Bartz. Bartz would also complain to Carr about Marzen's behavior.
The complaint says that Marzen would tell Farmer that he had sex with other attorney's and family members of witnesses. It also says Marzen would refer to other females anatomy - including Judicial Magistrate Marilyn Dettmer.
Farmer says she complained about Marzen's conduct to Floyd County Supervisors Leo Staudt and Arlin Enabnit as well as Auditor Gloria Carr without any action on several occasions. A human resource consultant told Carr that she couldn't "sit back" on the complaint and that the County needed to protect its employees from sexual harassment. Carr was approached on numerous occasions.
After five complaints by Farmer, Carr finally witnessed sexually inappropriate materials that Marzen posted on his office walls. Farmer states that Carr was going to talk with Marzen about the harassment but adds that Carr couldn't find anything in the county's sexual harassment policy specifically prohibiting his actions.
The court documents show that Carr was approached nearly a dozen times about Marzen's actions.
Nearly a year and a half after harassment is said to have started, Farmer complained to Iowa Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown. She gave Brown pages of notes documenting Marzen's behavior. Despite an investigation into the behavior, no action was taken.
A month later in June 2008, Farmer complained about Marzen's harassment to Assistant Attorney General Thomas Miller. He told her that his office was aware of what was going on. However, Miller told her that they were waiting on a ruling regarding an ethics charge Marzen was facing and wouldn't do anything until it was complete. He told her to "hang in there" while continuing to document everything.
The next month another complaint was filed, this time to Assistant Attorney General David Vestal. He told Farmer that there was nothing they could do about Marzen.
In the fall of 2008, Farmer says Marzen approached her from behind, put his arms around her waist and cupped her breasts as she was standing at the copier. Farmer says that Marzen told her that he couldn't help himself.
Farmer again complained to Brown and Assistant Attorney General Corwin Ritchie that Marzen was sexually harassing and physically assaulting her. Still, no action was taken.
Farmer was fired in November 2009 after she claims Marzen falsely accused her of falsifying proof on a document.
On February 16, 2010 the county approached Farmer to interview her an investigation into Marzen's ongoing acts of sexual harassment and retaliation but wound up not talking to her.
Farmer's lawsuit is seeking compensation for her injuries and damages.
