Seattle City Light worker who helped expose drinking, harassment sues department

A woman whose complaints helped spur a more than two-year investigation into drinking, harassment and sexual assault on the job at Seattle City Light is suing the department, alleging her name and past settlement were leaked to her co-workers, resulting in retaliation.

The lawsuit, which names the department broadly as well as individuals within its leadership, highlights the depths of City Light’s personnel challenges within its team tasked with conducting dangerous work on behalf of downtown ratepayers.

A cable splicer for City Light, the employee came up against issues of drinking and sexual assault dating back to 2011, the case says. That year, she felt pressured into joining one of the group’s alcohol-heavy “buy” events, a night of drinking whenever an apprentice is promoted.

She p