Former A&m Staffer Brings Sexual Harassment Charges

In the court action, filed Sept. 8 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Byers, a former administrative assistant to Mazzetti, alleges that he was 'the victim of a continuous pattern of sexual harassment, including lewd comments, molestation, and physical acts . . . which included constant and unwanted sexual overtures, intimidation, and threats of retaliation' by Mazzetti, whom, the suit alleges, is 'openly gay.' Byers, whom the suit says is heterosexual, further alleges that his complaints to A&M regarding Mazzetti's behavior went unheeded (Billboard Bulletin, Sept. 9). According to the suit, Byers was placed on paid leave March 6 pending internal investigations into his allegations and returned to work April 9 without a resolution of his charges against Mazzetti.
Byers was informed that Mazzetti was terminated March 28 for reasons not related to the sexual harassment charges but for 'other acts of misconduct,' according to the suit.
Byers, who was placed in the office next to the one previously occupied by Mazzetti, took another leave of absence April 11, the suit claims, due to overwhelming stress related to 'memories of sexual harassment by Mazzetti' and 'stress of returning to work without resolution.'
According to the suit, Byers was subsequently terminated by A&M Aug. 14 for failure to pay his portion of A&M's long-term disability premium, which Byers claims he could not afford.
Diana Baron, A&M senior VP of publicity, declined to comment on the case, stating, 'We do not litigate in the press.'
According to a prepared statement, Mazzetti's lawyer, Jay M. Coggan, denies Byers' sexual harassment charges. He also reiterated that Mazzetti was not terminated for sexual harassment and was cleared of Byers' harassment charges at the conclusion of A&M's internal investigation.
Coggan also stated that Mazzetti expects to file a wrongful termination suit against A&M during the week of Sunday (14).
'This is not a knee-jerk reaction to (Byers' suit),' Coggan tells Billboard. 'We were about do this anyway.'
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