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Lawsuit Accuses Former Finance Director of Sexual Harassment
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by Tyler Hayden hen former finance director Robert Samario suddenly and quietly retired last March after an undisclosed four-month investigation — walking away with his full $120,000 annual pension and a fond farewell from the city administrator— it raised a lot of questions and a lot of eyebrows. A sexual harassment lawsuit filed this week may begin to explain the reasoning behind his abrupt departure and how, according to the complaint, it fit within a long-running pattern of illegal behavior. In fact, the lawsuit alleges, Samario’s aggressive overtures and “womanizing” among his staff was a “badly kept secret” at the top levels of Santa Barbara government for more than 13 years. The lawsuit was filed by Jennifer Tomaszewski, Samario’s deputy finance director, and contains a litany of detailed Former finance director Robert Samario allegations. Tomaszewski and her attorney, Christina Humphrey, emphasize she coffee almost every day, the lawsuit states. was not the only victim, just the latest. If Tomaszewski declined coffee, Samario “Numerous female employees were interwould ask her if she was mad at him and viewed and gave the same accounts about tell her that she had hurt his feelings. Samario,” the complaint states. • “Samario met one of [Tomaszewski]’s “Some of the known conduct included daughters and spoke several times about that Samario’s current wife held a staff her body and how beautiful she was,” the level position at the City and that Samario suit says. engaged in an extramarital affair with her • According to the complaint, Samario while he was married to his previous wife,” would routinely ask Tomaszewski for it declares. “It was a big scandal.” hugs by inviting her to “Bob’s Hug Club.” Tomaszewski also specifically implicated • Samario often called Tomaszewski his City Administrator Paul Casey for allegedly “work-wife,” she alleged, and told her having full knowledge of Samario’s actions to watch a Netflix show about Bill and and allowing him to retire — reportedly Melinda Gates, explaining that the Gatewithout the City Council’s approval — ses’ relationship reminded him of theirs. instead of facing termination, which would In the finance department, he was the have substantially reduced his pension. father, Tomaszewski was the mother, and Casey is accused of passing over Tomaszethe staff were their children, Samario wski for the director position because of her would reportedly say. involvement in the investigation and instead • “When Samario and his wife were preparchoosing an outside hire to lead the departing to have a baby, he talked to [Tomaszement with 47 employees and a $6 million wski] about the sexual positions that help budget. The lawsuit claims the investigation ensure a female baby,” the lawsuit states. cost the city over $100,000 and generated • During conferences, Samario would text a 150-page internal report that chronicled Tomaszewski late at night and invite her Samario’s repeated instances of harassment for “one-on-one” time, the complaint of multiple female employees. At the time states. Ahead of one particular conference, of his retirement, Samario was earning which was ultimately canceled because of $265,000 in salary and benefits. COVID, Tomaszewski considered asking Casey directed questions for this story to her husband to accompany her so she City Attorney Ariel Calonne, who declined wouldn’t have to be alone with Samario. to comment. A sample of Tomaszewski’s 29 separate These incidents and others were viewed allegations against Samario follows: by Casey and other city officials as simply “Bob being Bob,” the complaint concludes. • Almost immediately upon Tomaszewski’s “The sexual harassment by Samario subpromotion to deputy finance director in jectively offended plaintiff on an almost August 2018, Samario reportedly began daily basis, and was sufficiently pervasive “flirting and inappropriately commenting and severe as to alter the conditions of her on [her] appearance, clothing, and fitness, employment and create a hostile, intimidating and/or abusive work environment.” and telling her she was attractive.” The case will be heard in Santa Barbara • “Samario relentlessly asked [Tomaszewski] to show him her tattoo,” called her Superior Court. A hearing date has not yet n “kiddo” and “sweetie,” and asked her to been set.
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