Clatskanie utility settles third lawsuit stemming from former manager's groping of women

The Clatskanie People's Utility District has agreed to pay $657,500 to a former high-ranking employee who claimed she was discriminated against and fired in retaliation for complaining about a top manager's sexual harassment.

The settlement, presented to a U.S. magistrate judge in Portland on Thursday, resolves the lawsuit brought one year ago by Tamela Keith, of Longview, Wash.

Keith, who said she was groped several times by former power manager Joe Taffe, alleged that the utility's general manager refused to consider her for a promotion, stopped inviting her to meetings and retaliated against her after learning that she had cooperated with police investigating Taffe's conduct.

The district's insurer, Special Districts Association of Oregon, will pay the claim.

"This has been a very difficult experience for Tammy," said her lawyer, Mick Seidl. "She's relieved that an acceptable settlement has been reached and she looks forward to putting this behind her."

Keith's settlement will be the third payout by the Clatskanie PUD in connection with Taffe's groping of female employees and then general manager Greg Booth's handling of complaints. The utility agreed in May to pay $1.3 million to two former employees, Gail Rakitnich and Elisha Shulda, who claimed retaliation after reporting to authorities that Taffe pinched Rakitnich's buttocks, grabbed Shulda's breast and said that he "should kill" Shulda.

Three other lawsuits from former employees against the utility are proceeding in U.S. District Court in Portland.

Taffe was charged in 2012 with sex-abuse in connection with complaints from four female employees. He pleaded guilty last year to two counts of harassment for offensive physical contact of touching another person's sexual or intimate areas and was sentenced to probation.

"Clatskanie PUD, Special Districts Association of Oregon and Tammy Keith have reached a settlement agreement that allows all parties, the utility and its staff and the community to move forward," said general manager Marc Farmer. He declined to comment further.

-- Helen Jung

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