HICKORY, N.C. — A local District Attorney is being sued by a former employee for harassment and discrimination.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal courthouse in Statesville on Thursday by former assistant district attorney Nikkie Shafer, who claims District Attorney Jay Gaither used his position to sexually harass and intimidate her.
Gaither issued a statement saying Shafer is carrying out a vendetta against him.
Shafer says in the lawsuit that she resigned one week after an alleged instance of harassment in April 2013. She now an assistant district attorney in Transylvania and Polk counties.
Last October, Shafer filed a discrimination charge against Gaither with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
