A lawsuit filed Thursday by a former CBSNews.com video producer accuses two of his former bosses of touching him inappropriately–once at a CBS News holiday party. In the suit, filed in Manhattan Federal Court, Kenneth Lombardi claims that CBS News senior producer Duane Tollison kissed his neck and grabbed his crotch during the 2013 holiday party, the New York Daily News reports.
In May of last year, Lombardi claims he spoke with former “CBS Evening News” director Albert (Chip) Colley, seeking professional advice. Lombardi alleges that Colley got drunk and touched him, reports the New York Post. “I just turned 28 at time, Chip was in his mid- to late 50s, had been in the business for at least 30 years — he’s heavily connected — and he was running Scott Pelley‘s news show,” Lombardi told the Post. “I was terrified.”
“He would show up in my office. I’d catch him following me in the hallway, exhibiting predatory behavior,” Lombardi said.
CBS Interactive spokeswoman Annie Rohrs said, “While CBS takes all allegations of workplace misconduct seriously, we believe Mr. Lombardi’s claims are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit.”