Monta Ellis Sexual Harassment: Warriors Guard, Team President Respond To Lawsuit

Erika Ross Smith, a former Golden State Warriors employee, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on Wednesday alleging that star guard Monta Ellis started sending her racy text messages in November 2010, one of which included a photo of his genitals. In the lawsuit, she also claims that the Warriors covered up for Ellis by changing her job description and eventually firing her after Ellis' wife learned of the texts and complained to the team in January of 2011.

Shortly after Smith and her attorney, Burt Boltuch, held a press conference at his Oakland office,Warriors president Rick Welts issued a statementdenying the allegations.

"When we were made aware of a consensual relationship between Mr. Ellis and the plaintiff, we did what an organization should do. We told both to stop -- promptly, directly and fairly," he said. "The Warriors have never taken any action against the plaintiff for any inappropriate reason, and we deny the allegations she is making."

Ellis also responded to the lawsuit, telling KTVU-TV that "it's a legal matter, we'll let it play its course."

Boltuch, who revealed at the press conference a photo of what Smith claims to be Ellis' genitalia, fired back at Welts claiming that the relationship between his client and Ellis "was absolutely, unequivocally 100 percent not consensual."

Boltuch told Deadspin that they showed the photo to reporters "so they would know we were serious."

The 26-year-old, the team's captain and last year's leading scorer, scored 19 points and recorded six assists in Golden State's preseason loss to Sacramento on Tuesday night.

Via: HuffingTonPost

Monta Ellis Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: Warriors Star Allegedly Sent Racy Photos To Ex-Employee

A former female employee for the Golden State Warriors is suing the team and star guard Monta Ellis for sexual harassment, Marcus Thompson of Contra Costa Times reports. 

Per the report, the woman alleges that Ellis sexually harassed her from November of 2010 to January 2011 and that she has photo evidence sent from his phone. She is also claiming that the team covered up for Ellis. 

Burton F. Boltuch, the woman's attorney, described the photo evidence his client is referring to as "disgusting and graphic."

If the allegations are true, Ellis will join a strange list that includes Brett Favre, Greg Oden and Evan Longoria.

 

These allegations came shortly after the a former security director of the NBA claimed he was fired for advocating on behalf of female colleagues who suffered sexual harassment from male colleagues.

Ellis was recently voted a team captain by his teammates along with David Lee and Stephen Curry. During the team's recent media day, he discussed the ways in which he has matured as a leader and a man. 

"There are probably a lot of things you've seen from Monta Ellis in the past six years that you won't see this year," Ellis said.

Via: HuffingTonPost