Two women claim they were victims of sexual harassment while working for Atlantic City.
Floyd Tally, who heads the city’s anti-violence unit, is accused of sexually harassing both women, including allegations that he raped one of them on several occasions.
Virginia Coley and Tyyona Robinson allege in separate filings that their claims of sexual harassment were ignored and they instead were targeted for retaliation.
“It’s a clear pattern of sexual harassment in the anti-violence program,” said attorney David Castellani, who is representing both women. “It’s pretty ironic since (Tally) is supposed to be working to stop violence, and he’s the one perpetrating violence on these women in the workplace.”
The attorney claims it’s a pattern the city seems to be tolerating.
The city, Mayor Marty Small and OCEAN, which employed Tally as part of an agreement with the city, are all named defendants in the lawsuits filed June 20.
City Solicitor Mike Perugini said there was an investigation into the claims, although he could not give any details about it or even confirm it is fully completed.
"The city is going to defend these charges zealously," he told BreakingAC. "We are going to proceed in a manner as a result of our investigation."
Councilwoman Latoya Dunston raised the issue of sexual harassment allegations not being addressed during May’s City Council meeting.
She introduced a resolution calling for an investigation by the state. At the time, council attorney Robert Tarver said something like that should be reported to police.
Coley alleges she not only reported Tally’s harassment to police Jan. 3, but that Human Resources issued a no-contact order between them three days later.
The city ignored it, the lawsuit claims.
Coley spoke with Mark Natale, who the suit says was conducting an investigation regarding the Human Resources complaint.
Perugini confirmed that Natale is a defense attorney for the city.
Regardless, Tally would continue to be in the same building as Coley and “would sit in his car in the parking lot of plaintiff’s location,” the filing reads.
Robinson claims that she took the job out of desperation for work, even though Tally offered it with the understanding that a sexual relationship would be required.
When she would deny him sex, he would force it, the suit alleges.
One instance allegedly that at an unnamed date, Tally chased Robinson around his home when she “denied his attempt to have intercourse with her.”
“In response, defendant Floyd Tally chased plaintiff around his home until he cornered her in his bathroom and forced sexual intercourse with the plaintiff,” the suit states.
Right before Ramadan began, Robinson claims Tally forced sex on her in his office.
When Tally allegedly tried again around April 11, “plaintiff could not take it any longer and informed defendant Tally she would no longer be having sexual relations with him.”
She said Tally left her on Albany Avenue and drove off in the company car, making her walk back to the Stop the Violence location on MLK Boulevard, and threatened to terminate her.
She reported it to her supervisor, Assistant Director Omar McDaniel, who told her only the mayor could fire her.
The lawsuit categorizes the mayor as one of Tally’s best friends.
“No action was ever taken against defendant Floyd Tally in response to plaintiff’s complaint of sexual abuse, harassment and retaliation,” the suit states.
She went to a therapist due to the hostile work environment, according to the suit. The therapist put her out on medical leave for two weeks.
She then reported her complaints to Shanice Jones in human resources, but nothing was done, the suit alleges.
Instead, she was informed on May 25 that June 2 would be her last day.
Both women claim they were retaliated against with unfounded disciplinary action.
Castellani said he has heard reports of other alleged victims, but no others have reached out to him so far.
Now he’s waiting for the city to respond to the lawsuits, which were filed June 20.
