Allyson Ballard reports from the Town of Coupeville for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
A lawsuit accusing Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes of harassment and discrimination against former clerk treasurer Jennifer Carpenter has been settled and dismissed with prejudice, barring Carpenter from refiling the same claim. Carpenter alleged that Hughes repeatedly and nonconsensually touched her, made gender‑based and stereotypical comments about women and family leave, created a hostile work environment, withheld overtime and breaks, and retaliated by firing her, while male colleagues did not face similar treatment. Hughes and the town denied wrongdoing, but their insurer, Washington Cities Insurance Authority, agreed to pay Carpenter $285,000 to resolve the case. Public records produced by the town were heavily redacted and did not initially include the settlement document.
