ALBANY ― The Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal is about to get more costly for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and state taxpayers.
Former Lopez staff members Chloe Rivera and Tori
Cheap Michael Kors Burhans ― the pair responsible for the sexual harassment complaints that led to the pervy poll’s downfall last year ― filed a pair of lawsuits Wednesday against Lopez and Silver.
RELATED: TWO VITO LOPEZ VICTIMS FILE SUIT AGAINST LOPEZ, SILVER
“My clients feel there has not been sufficient accountability up to this point and they intend to pursue these remedies,” said attorney Kevin Mintzer.
The lawsuits, filed in state and federal courts, do not seek a specific dollar amount.
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
Chloe Rivera, left, and Victoria
Michael Kors Wallets Burhans filed a
Michael Kors Hamilton pair of lawsuits against Lopez and Silver Wednesday.
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Assembly spokesman Michael Whyland did not immediately comment.
Lopez resigned from the Assembly last month rather than face almost certain expulsion over the scandal. His lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, did not immediately comment.
RELATED: VITO LOPEZ FACES $300,000 FINE FOR HARASSMENT
The Legislative Ethics Committee is also expected to hit Lopez with a $330,000 fine for his boorish behavior ― the largest fine ever issued by the legislatures enforcement body, sources said.
Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News
Assemblyman Vito Lopez is accused of preying on at least eight female staff members.
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which investigated the scandal, found that Lopez groped, harassed and tormented at least eight young female staffers since 2010.
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It also faulted Silver for “mistakes” in handling the matter - especially in settling an initial set of complaints against Lopez without sending the allegations to the Assembly’s in-house ethics committee as required by Assembly policy. That settlement cost taxpayers $103,000.
Rivera and Burhans began working for Lopez in April of last year, just a few months after the initial complaints against Lopez had been filed. Rivera and Burhans, in fact, got their jobs with Lopez because the two initial complainants left the Assembly, creating two job openings.
The two new hires were subjected to harassment almost immediately after they started working with Lopez,
Michael Kors Totes the ethics commission found. He subjected them to comments about their dress and appearance and unwanted physical contact.
In one shocking instance
Michael Kors Shoulder Bags cited by the commission’s blockbuster report last month, Burhans was pressured by Lopez into taking a trip with him to Atlantic City where he repeatedly tried to kiss her, then grabbed her legs during much of the drive home.
Burhans and Rivera filed complaints against Lopez with the Assembly in July of last year. Unlike the initial complaints, their accusations were sent to the Assembly Ethics Committee, which found them credible. Silver then stripped Lopez of his seniority and his post as chair of
Michael Kors Crossbody the Assembly Housing Committee.
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