The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to give $99,000 to two women who brought sexual harrassment allegations against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner.
Michelle Tyler and Katherine Ragazzino filed a lawsuit against the city and Filner in January 2014.
Ragazzino, a Marine veteran, suffered a traumatic brain injury and PTSD while serving in Iraq. When she encountered issues with the Department of Veterans Affairs, vocational nurse Tyler went with her to ask then-mayor Filner for help.
In the mayor’s office, Filner allegedly asked Ragazzino to leave the meeting and then began giving compliments to Tyler. Tyler claimed that Filner implied he would only help solve Ragazzino’s problem with the VA if Tyler agreed to go on a date with him.
At Tuesday's meeting, the city council settled one of mutiple lawsuits stemming from the former mayor's scandal.
“With today’s action, San Diego is one step closer to putting this dark period in our history behind us," said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith in a statement.
Filner resigned from office in August 2013 after nearly two dozen women came forward to accuse him of inappropriate behavior.
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In October 2013, Filner pleaded guilty to felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battering involving victims of sexual harassment. He was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest.
Last year, the city paid $250,000 to another Filner accuser, Irene McCormack Jackson, who said Filner harassed her several times while she worked as his communications director.
At least four other women have filed lawsuits against the city and Filner in connection with the scandal.
