Sexual harassment lawsuit dropped against Las Vegas constable
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that had accused Las Vegas Township Constable John Bonaventura of sexually harassing a female deputy in his office.
Kristy Henderson had alleged in the lawsuit that Bonaventura started making sexual comments to her shortly after she appeared on a pilot episode of a reality television show and asked her to wear a mini-skirt and garters to work.
Henderson sued in October 2013 in U.S. District Court after she was fired in July 2012. She also had alleged that she was pressured to write a bio for the reality show.
In its April 17 decision, the court sided with Bonaventura’s argument that Henderson was an at-will employee who could be terminated. Bonaventura also had denied the sexual harassment allegations.
“It’s just like I said all along,” Bonaventura said in a statement. “This lawsuit consisted of completely false allegations, in retaliation to her being terminated.”
Referring to former Constable Robert “Bobby G” Gronauer, Bonaventura added: “She was a former Bobby G employee (whose) actions were based in self-promotion and revenge.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones also ruled that Henderson was prevented from bringing the claims forward because she had not disclosed the lawsuit in her bankruptcy filings.
However, Allen Lichtenstein, Henderson’s attorney, said an appeal will be filed soon, adding that Henderson had properly amended her paperwork in the bankruptcy case.
A separate lawsuit Henderson filed against Bonaventura, also in connection with her employment in his office, is pending in Clark County District Court.
The reality show pilot was the start of a series of controversies that befell the constable’s office after Bonaventura was elected in 2010. Others include hiring deputies with questionable backgrounds, jurisdictional disputes with neighboring constables and disagreements with the county about finances.
County commissioners in March 2013 voted unanimously to abolish Bonaventura’s office, effective when his term ends in January 2015.
Bonaventura is now running in the Democratic primary for the County Commission seat held by Mary Beth Scow, who is seeking re-election.
Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.
