A former clerk at the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts filed a federal lawsuit last Wednesday alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation against the county and her previous supervisor. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Karen Webb accuses Nicholas Cotten, the former Chief Deputy Clerk, of unwanted sexual advances and assault. The assault occurred in June 2022, when Cotten allegedly pushed Webb over a desk and forced himself on her, despite her saying no repeatedly.
Webb's claims of harassment extend to sexually explicit photos sent by Cotten, along with requests for sex and to stay with him in a hotel room he had reserved for a company event. Her complaint, detailed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, says that following her rejections of his advances, Webb was subjected to intimidation by Cotten, including him appearing at her church and her child's daycare.
According to plaintiff allegations, after reporting the misconduct, Webb faced what she believes was retaliatory action from Fulton County's Human Resources. She was reportedly singled out for tardiness and transferred to a less convenient location. Additionally, Tanya Miller, an attorney for Cotten, refuted the claims stating that the lawsuit is "frivolous" and "full of lies," while A.J. Mitchell, Webb's attorney, emphasized the need for accountability from those who "enabled this behavior."
The lawsuit against Fulton County further includes claims of discrimination based on sex and creating a hostile work environment. Webb, who had joined the clerk’s office in March 2022, seeks compensation for lost wages and damages for emotional distress. As reported by Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the lawsuit also includes several other complaints, one of which alleges that Webb was told she would appear as an "angry Black woman" if she pursued her allegations against Cotten, and was told by the HR representative that more evidence was needed to take action due to Cotten's senior position.
While the defendant, Nicholas Cotten, has resigned from his position, Webb's lawsuit continues to pursue justice. Ché Alexander, the Fulton County Clerk, has declined to comment due to the pending legal matters.
