Lawyer for Mihailides & The Preserve Responds to Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Will File Counterclaims

Lawyer for Mihailides & The Preserve Responds to Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Will File Counterclaims

On Wednesday, GoLocal reported on a ten-count federal lawsuit against Paul Mihailides, CEO of The Preserve Sporting Club, and his two related companies.

According to plaintiff Alison McDaniel's lawsuit, she was hired for a top marketing position at The Preserve, and alleges she was then subject to nearly non-stop graphic sexual harassment.

The suit cites dozens of alleged incidents of harassment.

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A lawyer for Mihailides and the two companies fired back and said they will be filing counterclaims. 

“Sexual harassment in the workplace is unacceptable at any level and The Preserve holds all who work there in any capacity to a high standard.  It is important to keep in mind a lawsuit is not made of facts, but rather allegations that must be proven. In this case, the defendants are confident that a jury will ultimately reject the allegations made by Ms. McDaniel,” said Nicole Benjamin, attorney for The Preserve companies and Mihailides.

The property markets itself as the ultimate outdoor experience. McDaniel became the de facto face of The Preserve brand appearing in multiple photos and videos on social media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Paul Mihailides (@paulmihailides)

 

 

According to Benjamin, "The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an independent agency, was made aware of Ms. McDaniel’s claim and The Preserve’s defenses, as well as the claims The Preserve has against Ms. McDaniel.  Those claims, which include claims for theft of company property, computer crimes and interference with company relationships, among other things, will ultimately be set forth in The Preserve’s counterclaims against Ms. McDaniel.  It was not until Ms. McDaniel refused to return The Preserve’s property that Ms. McDaniel made any allegation of harassment or discrimination. After the EEOC was made aware of Ms. McDaniel’s claims, as well as The Preserve’s defenses and claims, the EEOC dismissed Ms. McDaniel’s charge of discrimination and closed the case before it."

"The Alison McDaniel Agency was a subcontractor that continued to seek projects during all the time in question and was paid for projects invoiced to The Preserve before The Preserve ultimately terminated its consulting relationship with the agency," said Benjamin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Preserve Sporting Club (@thepreserveri)

 

 

"The Preserve will be filing its counterclaims against Ms. McDaniel, which it looks forward to presenting to a jury.  The Preserve also had independent investigators review Ms. McDaniel’s conduct and they have advised The Preserve to refer those claims to law enforcement. The Preserve trusts that the media will give The Preserve’s claims the same attention it has given to Ms. McDaniel’s claims,” said Benjamin.

But McDaniel's suit also cites inappropriate behavior by Mihailides against another woman although the second woman is not a party to the lawsuit. 

“Mihailides made unwelcome, offensive, sexual comments to a former Preserve employee named Alexandra Beahm ('Beahm'). Mihailides also touched Beahm in a sexual manner that were unwelcome and offensive. During Beahm’s employment, Mihailides approached her in the workplace on numerous occasions and tickled her which she found to be unwelcome and offensive,” stated the suit.

“On one occasion, Mihailides got on his knees so he could reach underneath Beahm’s desk so he could tickle her feet. Mihailides told Beahm to lower her COVID mask in the presence of others so she could show her ‘pretty face.’ On another occasion, Mihailides made a joke about the size of his penis while he was in the presence of Beahm and a client,” claims the suit.