DENVER -- A former employee of Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain has sued the company after an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation found witnesses substantiated her claims of sexual harassment.
Gwen Brown, who worked at the network in Denver from July 2001 to August 2003 as an editor, alleges in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that producer Chris Dellecese "became obsessed" with her "and attempted to force her into a sexual relationship," the lawsuit said. Dellecese is not a defendant in the lawsuit.
Brown claimed she was subjected to retaliation including poor performance reviews when she reported harassment, and ultimately was forced to resign.
FOX Sports denied Brown's allegations to the EEOC. Amy Turner, spokeswoman for the network's Rocky Mountain office, said the network cannot comment on pending litigation.
According to Brown's lawsuit, Dellecese would show up at her house declare his love for her, and tell her he "just wanted to touch her" and try to kiss her.
The lawsuit said Brown repeatedly turned him down, and he retaliated by harassing her and trying to force her out of the company. The lawsuit said company officials took no action when she complained.
News director Rick Schwartz dismissed Brown's complaints, saying "Chris is not going anywhere" and "You need to be the bigger person," according to the lawsuit. Schwartz did not immediately return a phone call.
Dellecese no longer works in Denver and is now the Senior Sports Producer for Comcast SportsNet in Chicago. He did not immediately return a phone call to his office, and his home number is not listed.
The EEOC's report said Brown had no other alternative than to resign.
