Charles Pugh Doesn't Want To Pay Up In Harassment Case
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - An ex-Detroit City Council member accused of sexually harassing a young man while he was in office says he shouldn't have to pay $250,000 awarded by a jury.
The federal court jury this month found Charles Pugh inflicted emotional distress when he offered money to the former student to make a sexually explicit video. The young man, now 20, was a teen at the time and Pugh served as his mentor at Detroit's Douglass Academy in 2012.
In court documents, Pugh says he doesn't have to pay because the young man already is getting $350,000 from the Detroit Public Schools.
"Plaintiff suffered a single injury and is only allowed one recovery," his attorney wrote in a court filing.
But Bill Seikally, the young man's lawyer, told the Detroit Free Press that Pugh should pay. He said just because DPS settled the case "in good faith," doesn't mean that Pugh can dodge his liability.
Pugh quit city government in 2013 and moved to New York when allegations surfaced, saying he was embarrassed. He didn't attend the civil trial in U.S. District Court, but testimony from a recorded deposition was played for the jury.
Pugh denied touching the young man, known as K.S., but admitted to sending sexually explicit texts about making a video. Police investigated but no charges were filed. Charges of sexual harassment were dismissed by the jury.
The young man asked the jury for as much as $1.5 million.
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