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Former judge, probation officer settle harassment lawsuit

Posted November 07, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (AP) - The former chief probation officer for a northeastern Indiana county and a former county judge have agreed to settle a lawsuit that alleged "a campaign of sex-based harassment, discrimination, and retaliation."

Heather Malone filed the lawsuit against former Huntington Circuit Judge Thomas Hakes in state court in December 2017. It later was moved to federal court in Fort Wayne.

The Journal Gazette reports court documents show Malone and Hakes agreed to settle the case last month. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Malone was the county's chief probation officer from 2015 to 2017 and alleged Hakes sent her unwanted messages and emails. The lawsuit claimed Hakes, who retired last year, reacted negatively to her dating another man and threatened to fire her if she accused him of sexual harassment.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net

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