Behring Settles Sexual Harassment Suit

Months of vitriolic sparring between Ken Behring and a former employee have ended in a tight-lipped deal to dismiss a sexual harassment suit against the Blackhawk developer and Seattle Seahawks owner.

Michael Olecki, one of Patricia Parker’s attorneys, would only say Monday in Martinez, Calif., that the case was over.

“The parties have reached an amicable resolution of the matter,” said Olecki, “and the lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice,” meaning the plaintiff cannot rekindle the litigation.

A hearing was scheduled in Contra Costa (Calif.) County Superior Court Monday on Behring’s motion to seal the court record and all discovery material in the case. Friday, Behring’s lawyers withdrew the motion. Earlier, they claimed Parker’s attorneys had engaged in a campaign to harass Behring into a settlement by filing highly sensitive testimony about his private life so the press would have access to it.

Although no details of the settlement were released, Jeffrey Lipow, an attorney for Parker, said earlier that Behring’s attorneys had offered a settlement “much, much bigger than $100,000.”

The lawsuit was the second sexual harassment case filed against Behring, 68, a former used car salesman, who made his multi-million-dollar fortune in real estate with upscale communities like Blackhawk.

In 1989, Behring settled what began as a $19 million lawsuit filed by a former employee and lover. Cynthia Reid claimed Behring reneged on an oral contract assuring her a lifetime of “financial comfort.”

Parker, 48, was hired in 1993 and claimed she endured pervasive harassment in her rise from executive assistant to the job of Behring’s chief financial officer. She quit this March and filed the lawsuit in April.

In her court claim, Parker said she endured demeaning chores to further Behring’s alleged sexual trysts while hiding them from his wife. Those chores included arranging the retrieval of at least two prescription drugs Behring used to enhance his sexual performance, she said.

She also claimed she was required to draft a “sexual release” form that Behring would carry in his briefcase for potential love interests to sign, clearing him from liability.

Parker quit, she said, a few months after Behring allegedly grabbed her under the auspices of a New Year’s kiss, inserted his tongue in her mouth, fondled her breasts and ground his pelvis in her hip.

Notes

The Seahawks released punter Josh Miller a day after re-signing veteran punter Rick Tuten… . Defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy sat out Monday’s practice with a sore back… . Fullback Reggie Brown missed time because of the flu… . A pulled groin muscle might affect cornerback Nate Odomes chances of playing Saturday against Indianapolis.