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Norwalk: St. Aubyn’s Complaints


by turfgrrl


March 28th, 2007 · 10 Comments

Here’s more details about the discrimination suit filed by Majorie St. Aubyn against the board of the Lockwood Mathews mansion. It fills in the details of what the complaint is, and what the alleged incidents were. From the AP report:

The director of a museum where “The Stepford Wives” was filmed is alleging that her gay colleagues created a hostile work environment, including one who poked her in the eye and another who showed her graphic pictures from a gay Web site.

Marjorie St. Aubyn, executive director of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk, says the incidents were part of a campaign to force her to resign. She also said her car was vandalized and she was threatened with poisoning.

St. Aubyn filed a discrimination complaint last month. The museum’s board voted this month not to renew her contract, which ends Saturday.

“What appears to have happened is that once my client had some problems with one of the gay members of the staff, they all took umbrage at it,” Craig Dickinson, St. Aubyn’s attorney, said Monday. “It got very ugly.”

Christopher Cooke, chairman of the museum’s board of directors, denied the allegations.

“I am stunned by these things,” Cooke said. “I have no knowledge of any of this being true.”

…

St. Aubyn, 60, says she did a good job, attracting “The Stepford Wives” and other projects to film the site and boost its revenue. The “Stepford Wives” remake, starring Nicole Kidman, was filmed partly at the mansion in 2003.

But she says the museum took no action after one colleague showed her the graphic photos and the other assaulted her by poking her in the eye with his finger.

Telephone messages were left for her colleagues.

St. Aubyn accused Cooke of threatening to fire her if she did not withdraw the assault charges.

Cooke said St. Aubyn filed a police report three months after the alleged assault. He said the case apparently was dismissed, but Dickinson says it’s pending.

“I did not interfere with any prosecution,” Cooke said. “That’s an absolute lie.”

…

Source: Associated Press,  Museum director says gay co-workers created hostile workplace March 27, 2007

Tags: Local · Norwalk

10 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: St. Aubyn’s Complaints”



  • 1 Anonymous // Mar 28, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    I feel for Marjorie - some members of the Board have personal issues with her and that shouldn’t have interfered with the professional workings of the Museum on a day to day basis. At the same time, if Board member’s personal feelings toward Marjorie were having an effect on the Mansion’s survival then it seems that she had to go. Regardless, there were Board members who seemed to forget that she is a real person with feelings. There’s no reason to be mean and rude to someone yet that was taking place on a regular basis over there. Putting aside the accusations of harrassment, discrimination, etc., it comes down to the Golden Rule - do unto others….

  • 2 Robert F // Mar 28, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    As a repeated victim of sexual harassment on the job at three different companies in the last 10 years, all of a homosexual nature, I am not shocked at the ignorance and denial protrayed in the above mentioned story.

    For some reason, when a man tells a female co-worker that wears something revealing to work, for example: “I like your skirt,” this can be construed as sexual harassment.

    However, when I had a homosexual boss turn on me after I shared information about his frequent repeated passes and details of his past with co-workers, I couldn’t find an attorney willing to pursue my case. In my opinion, the case wasn’t the problem: it was the homosexual nature; there was no precedent.

    This former manager made passes at me, told me far too many details about his past and personal interests, singled me out and gave me “special assignments,” attempted to make social plans only with me among several employees, and retaliated against me when I shared my situation with co-workers, creating a hostile work environment for me. Bottom line: After complaining to corporate headquarters, almost nothing was done. How did this happen? The president of the company was gay too. So I quit.

    Good luck to the offended parties.

  • 3 mansionmouse // Jun 1, 2007 at 3:59 pm

    Ms St Aubyn was not sexually harassed. She created all her problems with lies. The woman was convincing but then again most pathological liars are. The bad part is most of the board members never questioned her. They just went along with her happy fairytales.

    Funny, things have not changed at the museum since she has left I guess the board are still trapped in Never land.

  • 4 anonymous // Jun 1, 2007 at 5:07 pm

    #3

    You call someone a pathological liar, but give no evidence, zero, none, nada.

    Usually, that means you’re in denial, covering up for your buddies.

    GFY

  • 5 Anonymous // Jun 1, 2007 at 5:32 pm

    Turfie, is GFY grounds for removal? Anyone can tell what that means.

  • 6 anonymous // Jun 1, 2007 at 8:08 pm

    GFY = Good For You

    #5 = Crybaby

  • 7 turfgrrl // Jun 1, 2007 at 8:34 pm

    No GFY is not grounds for removal. Calling someone a pathological liar without substantiation however ….

  • 8 mansionmouse // Jun 1, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    If you read the from the Hour above,

    Cook said “thats an absolute lie” I have worked with her for many years and she has a huge problem with the truth. There are many that will agree. There is a witness that can prove she wasn’t poked in the eye, poisoning? please….car vandalized? she has said someone has been vandalizing her car for all the years I have known her. Lets see about five years ago she claims someone put sugar in her gas tank. Two years ago someone scratched a witch symbol on her car.
    Oh and here’s a good one..someone was bugging her office and computers. And so on and so on.

  • 9 Anonymous // Jun 1, 2007 at 10:05 pm

    Hey, #6 - have nice big cup of STFU.

  • 10 Anonymous // Jun 2, 2007 at 9:21 am

    Sorry, #6 - I should have said, have A nice, big cup of STFU. And then, GFY. There. I feel all better now.