LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former legislative aide is suing a city of Louisville official after she claims he sexually harassed her, and another man on claims he had a part in her termination.
According to the lawsuit, Shalanna Taylor was an aide for District Six in 2023. She worked under Councilman Phillip Baker and for David James until his appointment to deputy mayor.
In February, when Taylor first met with Baker she claims he asked for a picture of her child's father "just in case he tries to run up on me in the parking lot.”
She brushed the comment off, but later Taylor claims Baker discussed his concern about people thinking they were sleeping together.
Taylor assured him that would not be an issue. When the conversation moved on the lawsuit claims Baker later commented "And even if we were [expletive], it would be none of anyone’s business!”
Taylor also claims in the lawsuit that throughout their time working together Baker consistently tried to touch her or otherwise keep close contact with her.
By March 2023, Taylor said she was adjusting her schedule to spend as little time with Baker as possible so he would have less opportunities to try and touch her.
She did reach out to Metro's Business Office Manager Edwin Ernest during this time to let someone know about Baker's behavior. At the time Taylor, hoped to stay in the position until August because she "could not afford to lose her job" at the time, the lawsuit said.
On multiple occasions, Taylor claims she asked Baker not to touch her, which led to her being mocked by Baker.
In one instance when Taylor asked Baker not to touch her she claims Baker commented, "I don't even know if I'm your type anyway."
When Taylor said he is not her type, Baker responded, "Well you don't know what you don't know."
The lawsuit also says Baker would frequently makes jokes about Taylor being "too serious" and she believes these remarks were "intended to portray the workplace tension as [Taylor's] fault for being too uptight."
When Taylor met with James to discuss the finalization of his transition from District Six, she confided in him about her difficulties with Baker.
At this time, Taylor had alerted human resources but had not made a formal complaint.
The lawsuit says Taylor and James spoke on three separate occasions about Baker's behavior. Taylor told James in March she was trying to make it in the role, but she would pursue a sexual harassment action if Baker's behavior didn't change.
In April 2023, Taylor was fired.
In September, the lawsuit said Taylor got a call from James' wife. During their phone call, Taylor claims Mrs. James told her Baker fired her after James warned Baker about a possible sexual harassment suit from Taylor.
Mrs. James said when she asked her husband about it, he said "[Expletive] shouldn't have been running her mouth."
The lawsuit claims James and Baker were also responsible for Taylor being unable to find new employment.
It says when Taylor had almost secured another job, she was later denied the position after a hiring manager checked her references with Metro.
Taylor made a formal sexual harassment complaint in August.
The lawsuit also claims that Taylor continued to be harassed by Baker even after she left Metro. It says Taylor was informed in June that Baker blamed her for missing meetings and claimed she was not attending to her duties as an aide.
The lawsuit says these claims are false and that Taylor never received any disciplinary action while working with at Metro.
She is suing on counts of sexual harassment, retaliation for protected activity, and defamation.
WHAS11 reached out to both Baker and James about the lawsuit.
Baker sent WHAS11 this statement:
“I emphatically deny any allegation of such! Since this is now a legal matter I refer all things to my attorney Johnathan Ricketts.”
James also responded to a request for comment.
"I absolutely deny the allegations in this lawsuit," James said in an email. "I had nothing to do with Ms. Taylor’s termination."
