A veterinarian working for Metro Animal Services filed a lawsuit against the city and the department's director, alleging she was sexually harassed on the job while her complaints went ignored.

The woman filed the sexual harassment lawsuit in state court, although one is apparently pending in a federal court as well. The woman claims the director of the department sexually harassed her repeatedly, including by touching her inappropriately and sending her sexually suggestive phone messages.

The woman says that when she complained, the director implied his friendship with the mayor would override anything she said. She also says that when she played the sexually suggestive voicemails for the department's second in command, nothing was done to remedy the situation.

Other female employees sued as well. One woman who worked as an animal care manager settled a lawsuit against the department head last April for $287,000, according to the Courier-Journal.

In the most recent lawsuit, in addition to the sexual harassment claims, the woman says that the Animal Services department committed various illegal acts, such as giving away medications to unlicensed vets and euthanizing animals illegally. She also says many animals were treated inhumanely and that animals were crammed together in tight and dirty spaces.

The department director countered by saying one of the women was sexually harassing him because she wanted his job, and that the other one complaining of harassment "came on to him," not the other way around.

Source: Courier-Journal, "Lawsuit against Louisville Metro Animal Services claims sexual harassment, illegal activities," Jason Riley, Jan. 10, 2012