Councilor-at large Brian Gomes was fired last year after a sexual harassment investigation by St. Luke’s, according to court documents.
NEW BEDFORD — Councilor-at large Brian Gomes was fired last year after a sexual harassment investigation by St. Luke’s, according to court documents.
Gomes, who has served on the City Council since 1991, filed a wrongful termination suit on Dec. 21, claiming $1.5 million in damage and requesting to be reinstated as nursing assistant or an equivalent position. Gomes, an employee for Southcoast Health for 29 years, also has asked for a trial by jury.
Gomes and St. Luke’s agree he was fired June 23, 2017. However, court documents reveal they differ in the events leading up to and after his termination.
On Feb. 14, Southcoast Health System - which includes St. Luke’s Hospital - requested the suit be dismissed in a response that stated its investigation revealed evidence that Gomes exhibited behavior that made it lawfully and appropriate to fire him.
According to Southcoast’s response, at least one female co-worker accused Gomes of inappropriate behavior on at least two separate occasions. Court documents also show that a Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) complaint was filed involving sex discrimination and sexual harassment that led to an investigation of the department Gomes worked in.
Southcoast alleges the first instance occurred in September 2015, which led to a five-day suspension of Gomes and a final written warning. In January 2017, the same co-worker posted on Facebook, according to documents, that she had been subjected to a toxic work environment created by Gomes.
The final incident came in spring 2017 when a co-worker of Gomes filed the MCAD complaint. Southcoast’s response doesn’t specifically mention it was filed against Gomes, but the complaint led to an independent investigation that revealed “threatening, disruptive, harassing and intimidating behaviors,” by Gomes. This final incident led to his termination.
Southcoast spokesperson Peter Cohenno said he wasn’t able to elaborate Wednesday afternoon on the case. Gomes declined comment Tuesday night as he left a Committee on Finance meeting and referred all questions surrounding the lawsuit to his lawyer, George Leontire.