Dann saga shows no sign of ending

By Marc Kovac

COLUMBUS — Anybody know a good lawyer (insert oxymoron jokes here)?

I have a great case that’s sure to line the pockets of the partners of some distinguished law firm.

Here it is: I think I may have been harassed and subjected to workplace hostility, thanks to our former attorney general and his hooligans.

And I figure its gonna take at least $400,000 in cold, hard cash to ease my pain and suffering — that’s not including extras for attorneys fees, coffee and doughnut therapy and the like.

Because, it seems now is the time to get in line with all of the other state staffers who are coming out of the woodwork with allegations of sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct under the administration of Marc Dann.

Employees v. employees

Take last week, when a couple of female employees of the aforementioned office leveled complaints against a couple of other female employees, who already are awaiting word on their near-million-dollar reparations.

One wrote of her alleged harassers, “They make comments under their breath and constantly give dirty looks to multiple people including people in other sections on our floor. This situation makes me feel uncomfortable and threatened when I come to work. I am afraid that one of these times I am going to go into the bathroom or somewhere and Vanessa might come after me.”

The other added, “... and I specifically heard her say, ‘she’s sleeping with 3 people in the office.’ I got up and went to Erika’s office to make sure she was OK. She was shaking and her eyes were red. “

Columbus Dispatch reporters James Nash and Alan Johnson put it best when they described such details as a cross between the TV series “Desperate Housewives” and the business comic Dilbert.

What a mess.

And everyday brings new revelations and allegations and accusations. That’s what happens when there’s talk of near-half-million-dollar windfalls for people who have had to endure such inter-office nonsense.

Because it takes payments of $400,000 “to cover the horrific nature of these circumstances and to somehow restore them to the position they would have been in had none of this occurred,” as the attorney for the initial two harassment victims wrote to Dann’s temporary replacement.

Workplace hostility

The fact that an internal investigation confirmed workplace hostility, sexual harassment and improper relations (and led to the firing of a couple of employees and Dann’s eventual resignation) would seem to add credence to other employees’ complaints.

And Nancy Rogers is going to have her hands full dealing with this twaddle until Democrat Richard Cordray or which ever Republican who runs is elected in November.

X Marc Kovac is the Vindicator’s Columbus correspondent. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.