WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Chief Berkow Dismissed from Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Chief Berkow Dismissed from Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

A judge has dismissed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Chief Michael Berkow.

The case stemmed from Berkow's time at the Los Angeles Police Department. The suit claimed, while Berkow was a deputy chief on the department, he promoted several female officers in exchange for sexual favors. The lawsuit was filed by LAPD Sgt. Ya May Christle.

Yesterday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge dismissed all aspects of the case relating to sexual harassment and dismissed Chief Berkow as a defendant.

The judge ruled that, after a year of discovery and depositions, Christle has no admissible evidence to support her claims of sexual harassment.

Below is the text of a memo from city manager Michael Brown:

City Manager's Office
City of Savannah

TO: Mayor and City Council; Chairman and County Commission

FROM: Michael B. Brown, City Manager

SUBJECT: Chief Berkow dismissed from lawsuit

DATE: September 19, 2007

I am very pleased to report that the Superior Court in Los Angeles has ruled on a summary judgment motion in the case of Ya May Christie vs. City of Los Angeles. As you know, Chief Berkow had been named defendant in this case. As of today, he has been removed as a defendant.

This morning in Los Angeles the Superior Court Judge dismissed all aspects of the case relating to sexual harassment, and has dismissed Chief Berkow as a defendant. In his ruling the Judge stated that the plaintiff, after a year of discovery and depositions, has no admissible evidence to support her claims of sexual harassment.

The lawyers (John Sheller and Clint Robinson) for the City of Los Angeles wrote to us in an email: "There are three key rulings today: a) sexual harassment is no longer an element of this case; b) Michael Berkow is no longer a defendant; c) punitive damages are no longer at issue. The court's ruling is consistent with the position that we've taken all along, which is that there has been no evidence to support the claims presented."

There are some elements of the case against the City of Los Angeles that the Judge has not dismissed, and which are slated to go to trial next week. These relate to the plaintiff's claim of retaliation for being transferred. As Chief Berkow had nothing to do with her transfer, he was not named as a defendant in that aspect of the lawsuit, but may be called as a witness. We understand there are extensive hearings tomorrow in Los Angeles on issues of evidence and trial presentation, but these do not change the fact that our Chief has been dismissed from this case. 

Reported by: Michelle Paynter, mpaynter@wtoc.com