The author of Playboy.com's "Lawyer of Love" column has accused an executive of sexual harassment.
Corri Fetman, a 45-year-old Chicago divorce attorney who posed nude for the site, said that Thomas Hagopian, an executive at Playboy Enterprises, groped her and sent her sexually explicit e-mails and phone calls. When she turned him down, Hagopian took away her column last summer.
A Playboy spokesperson said that Hagopian had left the company last year but would not give details on his departure.
"We take these allegations very seriously," the spokesperson said. "We will follow our internal policies and procedures and complete our own investigation of this matter."
Fetman is suing for more than $4.5 million in damages, including "gender violence" and emotional distress.
"I'm filing the lawsuit because I believe there may be other victims out there," said Fetman. "I also do not believe under any circumstances that any woman should be subjected to this type of harassment."
Fetman's attorney, Timothy J. Ashe, said that the columnist had grown depressed and anxious due to the harassment and even had to seek medical care.
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"Everybody has a breaking point," said Ashe. "She is not an overly sensitive person."
Matt Bartosik is the editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and a "between blogs" blogger.
