INDIANAPOLIS — The federal lawsuit against Attorney General Curtis Hill, filed by the four women accusing him of sexual misconduct, has been dismissed.
The four accusers, Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, Niki DaSilva, Gabrielle McLemore and Samantha Lozano, filed the suit against Hill and the state of Indiana in June.
The alleged sexual misconduct happened in the early morning hours of March 15, 2018, at a party celebrating the end of the legislative session at A.J's Bar in Indianapolis.
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson of the Southern District of Indiana granted all the motions to dismiss in a ruling Monday. Though the case was dismissed, Hill’s behavior was discussed in the opinion.
“There is no doubt that the allegations as to Attorney General Hill’s actions toward Plaintiffs at the Sine Die Celebration, which the Court must accept as true at this stage of the litigation, describe disgraceful and reprehensible conduct,” she wrote. “But the highly offensive nature of the alleged acts does not meet the legal standard necessary to establish a violation of any federal law or the Constitution of the United States by Attorney General Curtis Hill.”
The women asserted claims including sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and constitutional equal protection claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. They also asserted claims for battery, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
“I am grateful for the court’s ruling dismissing the federal lawsuit," Hill said. "It is my great honor to serve the citizens of this great state and I look forward to continuing to protect and defend Hoosiers as their Attorney General.”
The attorneys for the plaintiffs released the following statement:
“We understand there are a wide range of opinions on the ramifications and legal significance of Curtis Hill's actions. Unlike situations such as Harvey Weinstein, Attorney General Hill's “reprehensible” conduct at the Sine Die event, and his and the State of Indiana’s behavior in the days and months thereafter, may not fall within traditional fact patterns found in Federal cases focusing on Title VII and Section 1983 claims.
We respectfully disagree with the Court’s conclusion. However, yesterday’s order makes several things clear - Hill’s behavior that night towards these four women was unacceptable, that these women have claims they are entitled to bring in multiple forums available to them, including Federal and state courts here in Indiana, and that their pursuit of remedies and justice may and will continue forward.”
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