Sex Harassment Suit Filed Against Warren Moon, Former Seahawks QB

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Warren Moon, Hall of Fame quarterback who played parts of 17 seasons in the NFL with four different teams, sexually harassed an assistant for his sports marketing firm, according to a lawsuit filed in Orange County, California. The lawsuit filed on Monday alleges Moon made "unwanted and unsolicited" sexual advances toward Wendy Haskell as part of her role as his assistant working for Sports 1 Marketing.

The lawsuit said Moon, 61, hired Haskell for an executive assistant position, but that Haskell didn't realize at the time Moon had "a dark and twisted side" despite how the public viewed him.

"Soon after she began her employment, Moon demanded Ms. Haskell submit to a variety of unnerving sexual and perverse controlling arrangements, including sleeping in the same bed with him on all business trips, providing him unfettered access to the bathroom every time she showered, wearing skimpy lingerie while in the obligatory single room, obtaining prior approval for her wardrobe, and being subjected to continuous unwanted and unsolicited sexual advances," the lawsuit said.

When Haskell expressed reservations, Moon insisted this was “just the way it is,” the lawsuit alleged. He threatened to find someone else if Haskell felt uncomfortable with him and insisted the outrageous “requirements” were part of the job, the lawsuit said.

When she tried to refuse Moon’s inappropriate sexual advances and controlling behavior, he became enraged, the lawsuit said. Haskell reported Moon to CEO David Meltzer, but she alleges the company didn't bother to investigate it or discipline Moon.

"Instead, S1M’s CEO disgracefully ordered Ms. Haskell to continue with her job duties, and essentially, just
tough it out," the lawsuit said.

Moon behavior allegedly turned violent, including "surreptitiously drugging her drink and despite her pleas to stop, ripping off her clothes," the lawsuit said.

The company then allegedly demoted her and cut her pay.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and damages and accuses Moon of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, gender discrimination, retaliation, deliberately inflicting emotional distress and sexual battery.

Moon co-founded the company and serves as its president. The Washington Post first reported on the lawsuit on Wednesday.

Moon played for Houston, Minnesota, Seattle and Kansas City. He threw for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns in the regular season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Moon is also a radio commentator for the Seattle Seahawks. The team was aware of the lawsuit and announced on Wednesday that "We have accepted Warren Moon's request for a leave of absence as the club's radio analyst."

Haskell's attorney, Diane Fitzgerald, told The Washington Post her client decided to go public with the suit.

"She was expecting to further her career in the sports marketing industry," Fitzgerald told The Post. "She had no idea that her job duties were going to involve that kind of perverse protocol."

Filed Complaint Against Sports 1 Marketing and Warren Moon by Anonymous NbMQ9Ymq on Scribd

By The Associated Press

Photo credit: Amy E. Powers/Associated Press