SAN DIEGO — The woman accusing former San Diego County supervisor Nathan Fletcher of sexual harassment appeared Friday in court, in person.
Grecia Figueroa told the judge she is still searching for a new attorney.
Figueroa told CBS 8 she decided to part ways with her former attorneys because they had a difference of opinion over how her lawsuit should proceed against Fletcher.
The judge gave Figueroa, 35, three weeks to hire a new attorney to argue a number of pending motions. “I am expecting the new lawyer to be up to speed on those motions,” said Judge Matthew Braner in court.
Two weeks ago, Fletcher filed a cross complaint alleging he was defamed by the former MTS employee when in August of 2023 she allegedly tweeted that nothing about their relationship was consensual.
Fletcher's defamation complaint includes text message exchanges between Figueroa and Fletcher. In one example Figueroa allegedly texts that she was, “missing your lips.”
The key issue in the case is whether their relationship in 2022 was consensual or coerced. At the time, Fletcher was serving as the chair of the MTS board. Figueroa also alleges wrongful termination by the agency.
Figueroa emailed CBS the following statement:
“Within hours of finding out I had let go of my former counsel, (March 22) Fletcher’s defense immediately served me with a defamation lawsuit, knowing I had no representation. It is a frivolous lawsuit, with allegations they know are untrue. They have tried to silence me since before filing my lawsuit, and to me, this is just another intimidation tactic."
Outside court, Figueroa said she is close to retaining a new attorney, who she declined to name. Figueroa said she intends to file an anti-SLAPP motion in response to Fletchers defamation lawsuit.
The next hearing in the case is set for April 26. Trial has been set for Feb 5, 2025.
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