An arbitrator in the sexual-harassment claim made by former Weather Channel anchorwoman Hillary Andrews against colleague Bob Stokes, found that Stokes had subjected Andrews to "severe and pervasive" sexual harrassment.
The reason an abitrator was used is the terms of Andrews' contract required she go the route of arbitration rather than court. Even so, she has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Atlanta, for the purpose of making the findings in the case public. The Weather Channel is fighting to keep that from happening.
Stokes evidently was very aggressive in his wrongful remarks, as he would attempt to get Andrews to talk about her former husband and her sexual relationships.
Andrews claimed that soon after being hired, Stokes started his remarks toward her.
"Stokes began telling her he was attracted to her," the suit said. "He told her that it had been a long time since he had been so attracted to someone. He repeatedly asked whether she was attracted to him. He repeatedly asked if she would go out with him. He made crude sexual remarks (e.g., 'Will you lick my swizzle stick?')"
In the suit Andrews also claimed once Stokes knew he wasn't going to get anywhere, he started to undermine Andrews on the air, which after complaining about it, was transferred to the overnight shift, and when her contract was up for renewal, she wasn't retained.
Andrews worked for the Weather Channel for almost three years, leaving on August 30, 2006. Stokes was fired in February 2008.
She received an undisclosed financial settlement in the case.
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