New Orleans commission reinstates official, says her 'inappropriate touching' didn't impact work

A controversial ruling by the New Orleans Civil Service Commission has reinstated Lora Johnson, a former city official fired over repeated sexual harassment allegations. The commission upheld the findings of misconduct but claimed her actions did not harm the office’s efficiency — the threshold required for termination under their rules, reported New York Post.

The commission, while accepting the findings that Johnson had engaged in inappropriate behaviour — including unwanted touching and intimidation over more than a decade — ruled that her actions did not “impair the efficient operation” of the Clerk of Council’s office. That standard, according to the commission, is required to justify termination under city rules.

Johnson, who worked in city government for 35 years, denied the allegations and appealed her dismissal. The commission sided with her appeal and also instructed the city to repay the wages she lost during her absence.

The decision has outraged city officials, particularly Council president JP Morrell, who said it sends a dangerous message. “By the Civil service commission’s logic, sexual harassment in the workplace is acceptable, so long as the harassment doesn’t affect the overall work product,” he said.

Adding to the controversy, the commission publicly named the four employees who had filed the complaints — all of whom were previously anonymous.

Despite the findings of misconduct, Johnson’s lawyer argued that any touching was unintentional and denied that any sexual harassment had taken place. “There was never any sexual harassment in this case,” said her attorney, Brett Prendergast.