ORANGE : Judge Orders Ban in Harassment Probe

Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Bauer imposed a temporary restraining order against employees, attorneys and board members with the Orange Unified School District on Friday, prohibiting the dissemination of confidential personnel information about three top administrators accused of sexual harassment.

Pasadena attorney Dale Gronemeier requested the order after information was leaked to the press this week about disciplinary action facing his three clients--Deputy Supt. Richard Donoghue, Chief Fiscal Officer Joyce Capelle and Director of Maintenance and Operations Howard Mason. At a closed meeting last week, the school board initiated steps to fire Donoghue and demote Capelle and Mason.

The three administrators are seeking $20 million each in damages against the district on allegations of invasion of privacy, emotional distress and damage to their reputations following the leaks.

Donoghue, 48, is accused of inappropriate touching, distributing lewd materials, and using sexually offensive language in the workplace. Capelle, 39, is accused of engaging in and tolerating sexual banter in the workplace. The nature of the allegations facing Mason, 45, has not been disclosed.

“The restraining order basically supports the district’s policy,” said Tom Stone, an attorney with the firm of Mary Jo McGrath, who represents the district in its sexual harassment case. “It’s what we are looking for too.”

Individuals who violate the restraining order could be held in contempt and be subject to fines and imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Donoghue was waiting to see if he is to be suspended without pay from the district. Donoghue denied the approximately 50 separate allegations of sexual harassment that were leveled against him in a 2 1/2-hour meeting with school officials Friday morning, Gronemeier said.