The company slated to take over maintenance of Sacramento's golf courses from the city has been sued by a group of former employees alleging sexual harassment and labor law violations.

The suit against Morton Golf was filed earlier this month in Sacramento Superior Court by four former employees of the Bing Maloney Golf Course. It also names course manager Andrew Wilson.

Sacramento contracts with Morton for most services at the city's four golf courses, including Bing Maloney. The City Council voted last month to outsource golf maintenance work to Morton as well, a move city budget officials said would save $500,000 a year but result in 38 city workers being laid off.

According to the lawsuit, Bing Maloney employees Jenefer Karavan, Sarah Dean and Joseph Achondo were subjected to daily sexual harassment by Wilson. In an interview with The Bee, Karavan said the work environment was "incredibly hostile."

Dean alleged in court papers that Wilson frequently kissed her neck and grabbed her buttocks.

Karavan, Dean, Achondo and fellow employee Phillip Reed also allege they were denied rest and meal breaks while working at Bing Maloney, and were not paid for overtime. Employees at the course were told to clock out after working eight hours, even on days they worked longer, according to the suit.

None of the plaintiffs except Dean still works at city golf courses. Dean moved from Bing Maloney to Bartley Cavanaugh, where she works in the pro shop.

Attorney William Wright, a lawyer representing the former golf course workers, said "it's unimaginable how in today's world a company can have a policy that says, 'We could care less about what the law says, we're not going to provide breaks.' "

Wilson did not return a phone call seeking comment. His attorney, Doug Adams, said the allegations in the lawsuit are "scurrilous" and "absolutely not true."

Morton Golf's attorney also did not return phone calls seeking comment.

City officials are aware of the lawsuit against Morton Golf and will monitor it, said city spokesman Maurice Chaney. He said the city would have no comment on the allegations.

The reaction from some quarters was swift, however. The issue of contracting public work to private companies is already a sensitive one at City Hall, where public employee unions wield considerable influence.

"If the allegations in the lawsuit are true, the conduct is something the city should be concerned about before letting any further city work be contracted to this company," said Marcia Mooney, a business representative with Local 39, the union that represents city golf maintenance workers.

Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said she was "very concerned" by the lawsuit's allegations.

"It bothers me that something like this is coming up at this time," Sheedy said. "I would like for us to look into what they are alleging."

The sexual harassment allegations against Wilson detailed in the lawsuit include:

• Grabbing or touching employees' buttocks.

• Telling female workers their new dress code would involve "no more bras."

• Asking female workers how old they were when they lost their virginity.

• Inappropriate gestures and comments about female customers, including panting like a dog when they walked out of the course pro shop.

Karavan and Dean complained to Morton Golf officials about Wilson's alleged behavior, and the company "condoned and justified Andrew Wilson's behavior because 'he was a former Marine' and 'that's how women used to be treated back in the day,' " the lawsuit states.

According to the suit, the alleged harassment of Karavan became more vulgar once Wilson discovered she and Achondo were dating. At one point, the lawsuit states, Wilson snapped a rubber band on Karavan's buttocks and said, "I left my stamp where Joe can find it. I hope I don't get in too much trouble with him," according to the suit.

On another occasion, Wilson handed Karavan a stack of money from the golf course driving range and, in front of a customer, said, "Here you go, Jen. This is for last night. I think you're worth it, and I told you I would pay you," the lawsuit states.

Karavan charged in the suit she was fired less than a month after complaining of Wilson's behavior to Morton's human resources department.

In an interview with The Bee, Karavan said there was a great environment when she started work at Bing Maloney, but that it eventually deteriorated.

"It's an incredibly hostile work environment," she said.

According to the lawsuit, Wilson fired Karavan "in order to make an example out of her and let the other female employees know that they would be fired if they objected to his conduct or filed a complaint."

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Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085. Read his City Beat blog at sacbee.com/citybeat.

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