Lawsuit accuses former principal of sexual harassment

Former Pine Prairie High School teacher Kayren Ortego has filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against former Pine Prairie High School Principal Quint West. West is also the current Mayor of Pine Prairie.
The lawsuit was fax filed on November 15 after she filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) that was dismissed.
The lawsuit also names the Evangeline Parish School Board (EPSB), Superintendent Darwan Lazard and Assistant Superintendent Michael Lombas. The lawsuit is seeking damages, attorney fees and punitive damages. No dollar amount was specified, but the plaintiff is demanding a jury by trial in Division A (Gary Oretgo’s courtroom) in 13th Judicial District Court. No court date has been set as of Wednesday, November 20.
Ortego filed a written Charge of Discrimination with the EEOC on June 5. However, on September 29, the EEOC concluded its investigation and issued a dismissal and Notice of Rights, which confirmed Ortego had exhausted administrative remedies and she had the right to sue within 90 days of receipt of that notification.
Ortego is represented by Andrew Quackenbos of the Lafayette law firm of Domengeaux Wright Roy and Edwards. Ville Platte attorney Jacob Fusilier is representing West along with the School Board attorneys.
When asked for a comment, an emotional West said on Tuesday he had not seen the lawsuit and could not make any comment on pending litigation. He did say this year-long ordeal is taking a toll on him and his entire family for the past year.
On Wednesday, Quint West’s attornet, Jacob Fusilier, released the following response:
“My client, Mr. Quint West, absolutely denies all of the false allegations contained in the plaintiff’s lawsuit. Mr. West did not, at any time, harass the plaintiff. None of the agencies listed in the plaintiff’s lawsuit ever found Mr. West acted inappropriately toward the plaintiff. Mr. West looks forward to showing the jury and the public these allegations are completely baseless.”
Both Lazard and Lombas, when reached, said they could not make any comment because of pending litigation.
According to the lawsuit, Ortego was employed by the Evangeline Parish School Board as a teacher of English IV and dual-enrollment English at Pine Prairie High. Before the 2018 school year, West was appointed principal at the school. 
Ortego alleges, in her lawsuit, that on or about November 29, 2018, West requested a ride home from Ortego after a meeting at the school. When they reached the driveway of West “he sexually harassed and made unsolicited physical contact along with lewd sexual comments to Mrs. Ortego. Specifically, Quint West told Mrs. Ortego that his wife was out of town. He then kissed Mrs. Ortego on the cheek when she turned away from his attempt to kiss her on the mouth. He then placed his hand on Mrs. Ortego’s thigh and stopped only after she rebuffed his advances. Mr. West then made a very lewd and lascivious comment about his private parts and finally exited her car after making the lewd sexual comment.”
Ortego claims the harassment continued on December 7, 2018, through intimidation and unsolicited contact by entering her classroom unannounced, invading her personal space, and making physical contact with her. Ortego talked to her immediate supervisor, who is the assistant principal. The assistant principal told her to file a formal complaint. The formal complaint was filed on December 11 to Assistant Superintendent Michael Lombas.
According to the lawsuit, EPSB assured Ortego she would be offered a comparable teaching position in another EPSB school; however she was offered a specialized position at Mamou High School for which she was not qualified to teach. In January, Ortego understood a position, just like the one PPHS, was open at Ville Platte High School, but Lombas refused to approve and/or offer the position to Mrs. Ortego.
On February 5, Mrs. Ortego received a letter from Superintendent Darwan Lazard which said West’s action did not constitute sexual harassment as defined by EPSB’s policies. The letter also indicated West had retired and would not return to work with EPSB.
Ortego contends that Lombas and Lazard were aware of West’s unlawful intentions but did nothing to protect Ortego or prevent West from carrying them out. The lawsuit also alleges multiple female employees of EPSB filed written sexual harassment complaints against West during his employment with EPSB. The lawsuit says no disciplinary action of any kind was ever imposed.
“Instead, Defendants, Michael Lombas and Darwan Lazard, condoned his conduct and the EPSB shuffled Quint West to different schools in the parish to shield him from sexual harassment claims made against him, which enabled Quint West to continue his unlawful actions unabated,” the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit says Ortego suffered severe mental anguish and debilitating emotional distress, fear, worry, concern, embarrassment, humiliation, diminished economic horizons, and economic advantage, past and future loss of enjoyment of life, past and future medical expenses, psycho-therapy expenses, pharmaceutical expenses, pre-judgement and post-judgement interest on all damages and any and all other damages established at the time of trial.
Ortego alleges the defendants, acting in concert, committed the tort of “intentional infliction of mental distress” because the conduct of the Defendants and persons for whom they are responsible was extreme and outrageous. She added that West actively desired to inflict severe emotional distress upon her or knew that severe emotional distress would be substantially certain to result from his conduct.