Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams, who lost in the May primary in a re-election bid, is fighting back against harassment allegations filed by two women who used to work in his office.
On March 25, less than two weeks before early voting in the primary started up, Dianna Brooks and Kendra Krebs took part in a news conference to announce two lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Hammond against Williams and the township.
In court filings Friday, Williams categorically denied the allegations made against him by Krebs and Brooks.
In both lawsuits, Williams and the township “deny that Plaintiff is entitled to any relief whatsoever, and in particular, deny that Plaintiff suffered any deprivations warranting the requested relief, and request that Plaintiff take nothing by way of her Complaint, and for all just and appropriate relief.”
The women allege, among other points, that they were the victims of sexual harassment and retaliation by Williams when they asked him to address their concerns, including both of them being fired. Brooks’ lawsuit also includes allegations about Williams’ use of township time and resources. Krebs argued that she faced additional harassment because she is gay.
The news conference was put together by Ericka McCauley, who ran and won against Williams in the Democratic primary.
Brooks, the former executive assistant and bookkeeper in the Hobart Township Trustee’s Office, documented and reported seven instances of sexual harassment in 14 months at the hands of another township employee. That included him repeatedly brushing his genitals against her, according to her lawsuit.
Krebs, a former clerk/assistant in the same office, said in her filing that she was subject to another employee’s daily jokes, which were racist and homophobic, and to his urinating in a bathroom in a common area without closing the door.
She, too, said she was the target of unwanted sexual advances from the same township employee as Brooks, from John Long, the township’s former parks manager and Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams’ ally.
Long is not named as a party in the lawsuits, and, according to Brooks’ lawsuit, “has absconded to another state.”
The lawsuits, with several overlapping claims, encompass a host of allegations that the women said resulted in a hostile work environment that also included retaliation for bringing up concerns about the misuse of township funds and, ultimately, both of them losing their jobs.
Brooks, of Hobart, worked as an executive administrator and bookkeeper in the office for more than eight years until June 17, 2024, when she was terminated. Krebs, of Gary, who is gay and alleges her sexuality was often a target for her mistreatment, was a clerk/assistant, hired in October 2022 and terminated in mid-February.
A preliminary pretrial conference in Brooks’ case is slated for 10:30 a.m. June 18 before Magistrate Judge John E Martin. A similar hearing for Krebs’ suit takes place at 11 a.m. July 10 in front of Magistrate Judge Andrew P Rodovich.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
