California taxpayers will pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former state employee who claimed Treasurer Fiona Ma, who is currently running for lieutenant governor, sexually harassed her.
Ma’s previous employee, Judith Blackwell, was the executive director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. Blackwell filed the complaint in Sacramento County Superior Court in 2021, following her dismissal.
According to the complaint, Ma offered to let Blackwell stay in hotel rooms, then an Airbnb, in Sacramento with Ma and her chief of staff to avoid an hour-long journey home after dark. According to the lawsuit, Ma regularly showed her “bare rear end” to Blackwell in the hotel room and even crawled into Blackwell’s bed at the Airbnb while she was sleeping.
Last year, a Sacramento County court dismissed Blackwell’s claims for wrongful termination and racial discrimination but allowed the sexual harassment charges to proceed. The case was due to go to trial on September 9.
“From day one, I said this was a frivolous lawsuit filed by a disgruntled employee who fabricated claims in an attempt to embarrass me in hopes of receiving millions of dollars in a settlement,” Ma told reporters on Friday. “After three years of delay, I have been completely vindicated, and can continue my work on affordable housing, climate action, and job creation without distraction.”
Waukeen McCoy, the San Francisco attorney who represented Blackwell, called Ma’s description of the case as a vindication “nonsense.”
“I cannot fathom how she thinks that she’s been vindicated — my client has been vindicated,” McCoy told the reporter. “It appears that Ms. Ma does not believe she did anything illegal. She isn’t accepting responsibility for her actions, which is regrettable.”
Attorneys for the state Justice Department and the state Treasury signed a $350,000 settlement agreement on Friday.
Ma was elected as the state’s banker in 2018. She previously served in the California Assembly, where she developed legislation to restrict dangerous chemicals and increase safeguards for domestic violence victims.
Ma is a qualified public accountant who formerly served on the California Board of Equalization and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
