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« News Home
Women of AG scandal, state settle
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Cindy Stankoski
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Vanessa Stout
By Marc Kovac
The lawyer for the two originally had asked for $400,000 for each of his clients.
COLUMBUS — The two women whose allegations of sexual harassment started the scandal that led to former Attorney General Marc Dann’s resignation have settled with the state.
Cindy Stankoski, 27, and Vanessa Stout, 26, agreed to accept $247,500 each — totals that also will have to cover their attorney fees.
Both agreed to resign from the attorney general’s office. Stout, formerly of Masury in Trumbull County, left in mid-December, while Stankoski submitted her resignation Wednesday.
In a joint statement, Attorney General Richard Cordray and Rex Elliott, attorney for Stout and Stankoski, said the settlement puts “to rest a series of events that was unbecoming of the leadership of the attorney general’s office and difficult for the two women who showed courage in turning a spotlight upon it.”
They added, “Ohioans should be able to count upon ethical conduct by the individuals entrusted with conducting the people’s business. By bringing to light wrongdoing and a fundamental disrespect for that public trust, Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout played an important role in creating an opportunity to restore professionalism to the Ohio Attorney General’s office. We believe that what happened to them was wrong and regret the difficulties they have experienced.”
Stout and Stankoski filed complaints against a manager hand-picked by Dann, alleging sexual harassment.
An internal investigation substantiated the complaints and prompted the firing of two employees, the forced resignation of a third and a legislated investigation by the state’s inspector general.
In a statement Wednesday, Dann said, “I respect the right of the attorney general to make decisions such as the decision to settle this case today. However, while I am sympathetic to the challenges that these women faced, in my view the facts do not support a payout of this magnitude.”
The inspector general’s report, released in late December, alleged cronyism and “hiring missteps,” sexual harassment and other improper activities, and wrongdoing under Dann’s leadership. It also raised questions about Dann’s use of campaign finances.
Dann admitted he had an affair with an underling. He has vehemently denied criminal wrongdoing in the matter, however.
The settlement is lower than that proposed by Elliott last year. In a letter to then-Attorney General Nancy Rogers, he asked for a “payment of $400,000 [for each woman] to cover the horrific nature of these circumstances and to somehow restore them to the position they would have been in had none of this occurred.”
It also asked that the women be transferred to comparable positions elsewhere in the attorney general’s office, provide written notice to other employees making it clear that retaliatory actions would not be tolerated, and allow time off for counseling, if needed.
mkovac@dixcom.com
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Comments
These two brave women still ended up on the losing end of this deal. $247,500 after attorney fees and taxes does not leave them with a whole lot of money to get their lives back in order, especially since they are both without jobs right now. Stout had already resigned, Stankoski was on medical leave. It's not clear to me why she had to resign while on medical leave. Doesn't the Disabilities Act protect Americans for this exact thing? It seems to me that no matter what laws are in place to protect Americans, when you have people in powerful positions that want you out, you will be gone in a blink of an eye. Makes you wonder if others will think twice before they blow the whistle on wrongdoings in government or anywhere else for that matter.
P.S. Marc Dann should not be allowed to have an opinion about this.
Skeptic, you must be kidding. It is true that most cases of sexual harassment are valid. Women (and everyone) must be protected to a level where they can confidently report criminal acitivity and misconduct without fear of unlawful reprisals. But you surely cannot be so foolish as to believe that these two are innocent victims of a smooth-talking ladies man who robbed them of their virtue. Marc Dann just isn't that sharp. These two were as corrupt as Dann - they accepted special treatment and status, including the jobs and benefits to which they were not entitled, plus all the power perks of being the mistress of one of the state's top elected officials. They were (and are) mercenary predators who took crazy risks through a comedy of bad judgement and fraternity/sorority hijinks worthy of the worst movies ever to perpetuate such a streotype. The ties and the lifestyle go back YEARS and these women willingly participated in the party lifestyle in Columbus, actually abusing their own positions and relationships to harass others who WERE innocent and trying to protest what they were seeing. Only when it looked like it could be trouble for them did they suddenly become "courageous" and crawl out from under their rock to sing like birds to save themselves and to make a little money as well. To paint them as heroes is a terrible disservice to the real women you propose to defend. That language was carefully crafted and publicly stated as part of a settlement agreement and they are capitalizing on their own misdeeds. What is patently unfair is profiting from the results of a good and thorough investigation and having the State in a position where doing the right thing (investigation/removal) results in civil liability that pays off those who participated in corrupt activities. I'm glad Dann and his cronies were brought down, but get real!
Hell hath no fury like a deSouza scorned!!
Yeah sorry, I'm with "heard it all Before" on this one. Stout had a criminal record, neither had the qualifications, both played along for as long as it was benefiting them.