Cannon ordered to pay $12,000

Friday, December 8, 2006

(The Salt Lake Tribune)

Article Last Updated:12/08/2006 01:05:49 AM MST

WASHINGTON - A Utah judge ordered Rep. Chris Cannon on Thursday to pay more than $12,000 to a former staffer who claimed Cannon defamed her by discussing a settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed years earlier.
    Crelley Mackey, who worked for Cannon's business, his first House campaign and his congressional staff, sued the congressman in 1998, claiming he had defamed her when he told The Salt Lake Tribune he had paid nothing to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against Charles Warren, Cannon's former chief of staff.
    Cannon had been named in the lawsuit because of his duty to supervise his employees.
    Cannon paid $10,000 a year ago to resolve the claim that he had breached the confidentiality agreement that was part of the settlement, but Mackey sought attorneys fees, claiming misconduct by Cannon's lawyers.
    Third District Judge Robert Hilder denied part of Mackey's request in August, but in a judgment filed Thursday awarded Mackey $9,618.50 in attorneys fees, agreeing Cannon didn't cooperate when he was asked if he discussed the settlement with The Tribune.
    Hilder also awarded Mackey $2,553.42 in interest on the original $10,000 Cannon paid.
    Mackey's attorney, Roger Hoole, said he believes his client is pleased with the resolution.
    “First she was completely vindicated, not only on the allegations she made relating to his breach of the settlement agreement, but she was also vindicated in terms of the abusive nature of the defense . . . and that is borne out by the sanctions that were awarded to her,” Hoole said.
    Cannon's spokesman referred calls to Cannon's lawyer, who did not return a message seeking comment.
    Mackey's litigation against Cannon and Warren has wound through the courts for nearly a decade.
    She sued Warren in 1997, claiming that when they worked at Cannon Industries Warren pressured her into a sexual relationship that continued when they worked on Cannon's 1996 House race and for his congressional staff.
    The lawsuit was settled in February 1998, but the next month, Cannon told The Tribune that "No entity associated with me paid a nickel" to settle the suit.
    Mackey sued Cannon the day the story ran, alleging he defamed her and broke the confidentiality agreement. The case was dismissed in 1999, but reversed on appeal the next year.
   gehrke@sltrib.com