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The former chief of staff for a California state senator sued the senate and his former boss Thursday, alleging quid-pro-quo sexual harassment.
Chad Condit filed the lawsuit in the Sacramento Superior Court against State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, who was elected in 2022 as a Democrat for the 4th district covering areas along the Nevada border between Reno and Las Vegas. In August, she changed her party affiliation to Republican, according to CalMatters.
The lawsuit alleges Alvarado-Gil groomed Condit by sharing intimate details about her own life, asking him for personal favors, and conditioning him into an “unequal and subservient position” when he worked for her in office. After establishing a controlling relationship, Alvarado-Gil asked Condit to perform oral sex on her, allegedly saying, “I want you to … prove your loyalty.”
“Her inappropriate sexual behavior towards (Condit) and predatory fixation on his family, is conduct that no employer should engage in, and it is unbecoming of a state Senator,” Condit’s counsel from Schimmel & Parks, APLC, said in an emailed statement. “We look forward to seeking justice for our client for the substantial harm inflicted on him by his former boss.”
Alvarado-Gil’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requset for comment, but her lawyer Ognian Gavrilov told Politico they plan to fight the “outlandish lawsuit.”
Lawsuit details ongoing subordination and physical injury
Alvarado-Gil repeatedly inquired about Condit’s marriage and suggested he should be in a sexual relationship with her, according to the complaint. It also states she made comments about her sexual preferences in front of other staffers.
The first time she allegedly asked him to perform oral sex on her, Condit was “numbed and acted without thinking,” due to the suborindated nature of their relationship, the lawsuit describes. She continually asked him to do it, according to the complaint.
“(Condit) was demeaned and made to feel empty and subordinate to his boss, a California state senator, with power over his career and livelihood,” the complaint reads.
On the final instance, Condit was injured while attempting to contort his body for oral sex in a car and suffered from three herniated discs in his back and a collapsed hip, the lawsuit says.
Condit alleges he made clear that the advances were unwelcome and was fired in Dec. 2023.
California State Senate also named as defendant in lawsuit
Condit is seeking monetary demages and also names the California State Senate as a defendant. The lawsuit argues the facts of the case are grounds for suing on:
- Sexual harassment – quid pro quo
- Sexual harassment – hostile work environment
- Discrminiation in violation of the FEHA (Fair Employment and Housing Act)
- Retaliation in violation of the FEHA
- Failure to prevent harassement, discrimination or retaliation
- Violation of california labor code section 1102.5
- Injuctive relief
- Declaratory relief
The Califronia State Senate did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but Secretary of the Senate Erika Contreras told Politico in a statement, “the Senate has not been served in this matter, but we are in discussion with counsel to assess next steps. The Senate takes all complaints incredibly seriously, but is unable to comment on matters involving pending litigation.”
