New Jersey college employee wins $145k settlement after accusing ex-top official of ‘sexually harassing her by making her play 20 Questions, trying to kiss her and texting her on vacation’
- Bergen Community College settled the lawsuit with the employee after she accused ex-executive vice president Brian Agnew, 39, of sexually harassing her
- A federal dismissed the lawsuit after the college and employee agreed to the settlement
- Court documents did not disclose the settlement amount but NorthJersey.com reported it was $145,000
- Agnew, who left the college around the same time the lawsuit was filed, allegedly tried to kiss the employee, according to the suit
- The gender discrimination lawsuit accused Agnew of making the employee play ’20 questions’ and texting her on vacation
Bergen Community College settled the lawsuit with the unnamed employee last month after she accused former executive vice president Brian Agnew, 39, of sexually harassing her
A New Jersey college has settled an employee’s gender discrimination lawsuit against a former top official for $145,000 after she claimed he sexually harassed her by making her play ’20 questions’ and trying to kiss her.
Bergen Community College settled the lawsuit with the unnamed employee last month after she accused former executive vice president Brian Agnew, 39, of sexually harassing her.
A federal dismissed the lawsuit after the college and employee agreed to the settlement. Court documents did not disclose the settlement amount but NorthJersey.com reported it was $145,000.
Agnew, who left the college around the same time the lawsuit was filed, allegedly tried to kiss the employee, according to the suit.
The employee claimed she was forced into playing ’20 Questions’ with Agnew because she feared she would lose her job.
The lawsuit states some of the questions she was asked during the game included: ‘Have you ever cheated on your husband,’ ‘what’s your favorite sex position,’ ‘do you find other men on campus attractive,’ ‘have you ever messed around with anyone else at the college,’ ‘do you find me attractive’ and ‘can I trust you?’
A federal dismissed the lawsuit after the college and employee agreed to the settlement. Court documents did not disclose the settlement amount but NorthJersey.com reported it was $145,000
Agnew, who left the college around the same time the lawsuit was filed, allegedly tried to kiss the employee, according to the suit
The lawsuit also claimed he asked the employee personal questions, including if her ‘marriage was hard’, repeatedly asked her to meet on her day off and texted her while she was on vacation.
On one occasion when the employee told Agnew that she had been offered a job interview from a different institution, he allegedly told her: ‘I thought you were going to tell me you are secretly in love with me.’
The gender discrimination suit claimed other women at the college were also subjected to similar alleged harassment.
The lawsuit claimed the college and its HR department failed to properly vet him before he was hired.
Agnew was hired by the college back in January 2019 and the employee said the harassment started immediately.
The employee said the harassment eventually caused her to have panic attacks at work and she left the college in October 2019.
Agnew now works as a motivational speaker, executive coach and diversity and inclusion strategist, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Following the settlement, the college issued a statement saying: ‘We consistently review our operational protocols and practices in order to continuously improve in support of our students, faculty, staff and community.’
Agnew was hired by the college back in January 2019 and the employee said the harassment started immediately