NBA security officer sues Olympic, UConn coach Geno Auriemma
By Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY
Kelley Hardwick, the security offer, said in the lawsuit that Auriemma acted vindictively by demanding the NBA remove her from her position as the top security official for the U.S. women's team at the London Olympics in response to her fending off his advances at a hotel in Russia in October 2009.
In the lawsuit, Hardwick said Auriemma "stalked, assaulted and battered (her) by following her to her room, grabbing her about the arm and attempting to forcibly kiss her on the mouth." The acts were "unwanted but fortunately thwarted" by Hardwick.
USA TODAY Sports obtained a copy of the lawsuit filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
In a statement released by USA Basketball , Auriemma said, "This claim is beyond false. I will defend myself to the fullest, and I'm confident that the truth will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, I remain focused on representing the United States this summer and getting our team ready to compete for the gold medal."
A statement from USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky given to USA TODAY Sports said: "Any allegation of this nature demands serious attention, and we are working with our partners at USA Basketball to determine the facts. Having just learned of the allegations, it would be inappropriate to make further comment at this time."
USA Basketball said in a statement, "USA Basketball just became aware of this lawsuit today. As it is our policy not to discuss pending legal matters, we will have no further comment while this case is active."
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league would not comment on pending litigation. The New York Times was the first to report the story.
The suit alleges the NBA failed to fully investigate Hardwick's assertion that she thought Auriemma's push to have her removed from the security detail stemmed from her rejecting his advances. Hardwick's suit also claims "she has been a victim of a corporate culture of gender discrimination" in terms of employment possibilities and her salary. The lawsuit names the NBA and USA Basketball in addition to Auriemma.
Hardwick, 46, was willing to move on from Auriemma's alleged advances in 2009, according to her lawyer, Randolph McLaughlin of the firm Newman Ferrara. She traveled with the U.S. women's team two times following the 2009 incident, and in those instances, Auriemma avoided her.
But in April, McLaughlin said Harwick "was advised that she would not be going to the Olympics, that that assignment was being pulled from her. She was advised that the reason for that was that Mr. Auriemma had demanded that she not provide security for the Olympic team. ... She went through the chain of command to try to get that decision reversed. It was unsuccessful. She came to us, and here we are."
According to the lawsuit, she was convinced Auriemma "had exercised his influence" through USA Basketball and the NBA to "retaliate against her for rejecting his prior sexual advance and causing him embarrassment and discomfort with her continued presence."
Hardwick is seeking an award of injuctive relief, compensatory damages, an award of back pay and front pay and punitive damages. McLaughlin said the lawsuit was filed Monday.
Asked why Hardwick did not file a complaint in 2009 against Auriemma, McLaughlin said she reported it to the NBA, but it "didn't do anything about it. They didn't investigate it. They didn't follow up. She's a trained professional. Women have to deal with this kind of behavior on a regular basis in the workplace. She is a strong, ex-police officer who felt that she had affirmatively and forcefully asserted herself as a woman and pushed this back and said, 'I'm going to be a professional. I reported it to my employer.' And went about doing her job as a professional. And she put it behind her. And tried really hard to do that."
In addition to his role with the U.S. women's team, Auriemma has led Connecticut to seven national championships in his 25-plus years at the helm of its women's program.
Contributing: Jeff Zillgitt, Vicki Michaelis