Prosecutor's defense.

A three-judge appellate panel has reinstated a suit against the county filed by a deputy district attorney who claims she was not promoted because she complained about sexual harassment in the early 1990s.

Denise Moehlman, an unsuccessful candidate for District Attorney in the March election, said another deputy district attorney sexually harassed her beginning in 1991 while she was in the major narcotics forfeiture division. In 1992, she said she complained to a supervisor who told her not to tell anyone about it. Several weeks later, she claims to have filed a written complaint with the District Attorney's Department of Internal Affairs.

Moehlman said in a 1994 administrative grievance that her supervisor, Curtis Hazell, had written a false performance appraisal because she had complained about the harassment. She claims to have been denied promotions in 1996 and 1997 despite receiving three outstanding performance reviews.

She sued in February 1997. The alleged harasser was not named in the suit.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge dismissed the suit in 2002, but was reversed on March 4.

"At a minimum, Moehlman's evidence shows that she complained about sexual harassment, both orally and in writing, and that several supervisors were aware of her complaints," wrote Associate Judge Miriam Vogel, adding that, "reasonable jurors could infer that her complaints were the reason she was not promoted."

Donna Melby, a partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP representing L.A. County, said the county is considering whether to appeal to the California Supreme Court, settle the case or go back to trial.

Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone] ext. 225, or at [e-mail].