City of Oakland to pay $2.6 million over ‘sexually hostile work environment’ at senior center

(KRON) – The city of Oakland will pay out more than $2.6 million after an Alameda County jury concluded the city failed to protect an employee from years of sexual harassment, according to law firm Vinick Hyams Trial Partners to protect.

The harassment victim was identified by the law firm as Patricia Toscano, who was born and raised in East Oakland. She had worked for the city for nearly a decade before moving to the East Oakland Senior Center at 9225 Edes Ave. was relocated.

Toscano and other volunteers at the facility said Frank Knight, a supervisor who oversaw caregiver services at Oakland senior centers, “created a sexually hostile work environment.” According to the law firm, Knight touched Toscano, attempted to kiss her and had “locker room talk.”

Toscano reported the harassment to Oakland’s Department of Human Services in 2016, but no action was taken, the law firm said. About two years later, an anonymous person filed a report and the city launched an investigation.

An investigator found that Knight had engaged in inappropriate behavior and harassment. But testimony in court showed the city took no action, the law firm said.

“This case is about the city of Oakland’s decision to protect a harasser, not the woman he harassed,” said Katherine Smith, an executive at one of the two firms representing Toscano.

The jury voted unanimously for Toscano.