A former business manager with Fresno’s police union has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit that sought $1.95 million.

Anna Pine sued the Fresno Police Officers Association and its president, Jeff La Blue, in January, claiming harassment and retaliation. She said she lost her job because she refused sexual advances.

La Blue is a sergeant with the Fresno Police Department assigned full-time to union duties.

The FPOA and Brian Whelan, attorney for Pine, issued a joint statement.

“The parties in the matter between Anna Pine and FPOA have reached a mutually agreed resolution. The dispute has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties, and no further proceedings are anticipated. The resolution reflects a compromise and should not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party. Out of respect for the agreement and those involved, no further details will be provided. Plaintiff has agreed to dismiss with prejudice all claims asserted against the defendants FPOA and Jeff La Blue,” the parties said.

Neither side confirmed details of the settlement. The court docket does not reflect documents indicating the case has been settled as of Thursday afternoon. A case management conference before Judge Maria G. Diaz was scheduled for June 30.

Complaint Details

According to the lawsuit filed Jan. 22 in Fresno County Superior Court, La Blue engaged in repeated sexualized communications and conduct toward Pine, including explicit text messages, handwritten notes, verbal statements and physical advances that Pine rejected.

When Pine attempted to disengage from the sexual dynamic, La Blue’s demeanor toward her “changed materially,” the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit further claimed that La Blue made sexually disparaging remarks about Pine to other employees.

La Blue used his foot to caress Pine’s leg during a business meeting in what Pine described as an unwanted and “unmistakably sexual” advance, the lawsuit alleges. Pine reported the alleged conduct to human resources, according to the filing.

Allegation of Secret FPOA Recording System

The lawsuit also claimed that FPOA maintained an office recording system that captured audio and video. The lawsuit said Pine accessed the recordings to determine whether La Blue had conversations about her with another employee.

In one such conversation, La Blue allegedly used derogatory language to describe Pine. La Blue also threatened to fire Pine for what the lawsuit interpreted as Pine “asserting authority, enforcing workplace standards, and pushing back against misconduct.”

When Pine was terminated, the lawsuit says she was offered $63,956 in severance. The filing questions the legality of confidentiality provisions that would have required Pine to remain silent, citing California’s Silence No More Act.

The lawsuit also alleged La Blue spread false rumors that Pine had stolen money from the FPOA and engaged in financial wrongdoing.

Those accusations were untrue, the lawsuit said.

The complaint listed seven causes of action, including hostile work environment, sex and gender discrimination, violation of the Silence No More Act, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation and waiting time penalties.