MOSES LAKE — Nearly nine months since she and two other women filed tort claims against the city of Moses Lake, former assistant planner Billi Jo Munoz has filed suit against her former employer.

The suit alleges a discriminatory work environment and sexual harassment by former Deputy City Manager and Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado, as well as retaliation against Munoz when she attempted to have the conduct addressed.

Munoz, who was hired as an assistant planner in 2007, claims she was passed over for a promotion for a decade due to both gender and disability discrimination, after she suffered long-term injuries in a car accident while working; when a male coworker was promoted to the position she was promised, Alvarado told her that it was due to the work she missed while dealing with those injuries.

She also claims that Alvarado created a hostile work environment through sexual harassment, including by referring to her body in sexual terms, showing her explicit videos, and repeatedly attempting to “get Mrs. Munoz drunk” after hours.

Munoz also claims that former City Manager John Williams and former Human Resources Director Rich Bisnett were aware of much of Alvarado’s behavior and failed to take corrective measures.

Munoz was among the first of three women to file tort claims against the city, and five additional women have since added claims, which depict similar interactions with Alvarado, Williams and Bisnett.

In addition, Munoz’ legal representation claimed in legal filings that condoms, pornographic videos and other sexual items were found in Alvarado’s desk after his sudden resignation. Though attorneys for the city largely denied Munoz’ claims, they do admit that condoms and “a DVD that might have contained pornography” were found in his desk, according to court documents.

In an interview Monday, Police Chief and former Interim City Manager Kevin Fuhr said that Alvarado had not been allowed to clear out his own desk, and that the task was instead left to city staff.

Munoz quit her job in 2017, citing Alvarado’s conduct in legal filings, before she started a different career with a federal agency, taking a significant pay cut.

Monetary and non-economic damages have yet to be quantified by Munoz’ legal counsel, though attorney Corbin Earl said in a Monday interview that he expects they will ask to be awarded millions. Eleven claims were filed in total in the suit, including gender and disability discrimination, hostile workplace and retaliation.

A civil case of this type could likely take over a year before it comes to trial, Earl said.

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com.