Davidar says he had consensual relationship with colleague

Toronto, Jun 21 (PTI) Breaking his silence, India-born
David Davidar, the former CEO of Penguin International, on
Monday claimed that he had a "consensual, flirtatious
relationship" with his ex-colleague Lisa Rundle, dismissing
her accusation of sexual harassment.
52-year-old Davidar said the two had offices next to
each other at Penguin in the latter part of 2005 and had
become friends. Two years later, their friendship had become
"flirtatious", a statement issued by his lawyer Peter A
Downard here said.
Davidar had last week said that the company had
terminated his services in the wake of the sexual harassment
suit slapped against him by Rundle, a former Rights and
Contracts Director of Penguin Canada, who demanded 523,000
dollars in damages.
She filed the suit on June 10 in an Ontario Superior
Court of Justice, alleging that Davidar, who was also
President of Penguin Canada, sexually harassed her repeatedly
over the past three years, culminating in outright assault at
the 'Frankfurt Book Fair' last fall, and that she was fired
after complaining to superiors about his "twisted treatment"
of her.
Rundle of Toronto is claiming damages of 423,000
dollars from Penguin for "wrongful" dismissal and the "harsh,
vindictive and malicious fashion" with which it allegedly
treated her following her complaints against Davidar.
She is also seeking damages of 100,000 dollars against
Davidar personally.
"David Davidar has not sexually harassed anyone. He
has not assaulted anyone. David Davidar had a consensual,
flirtatious relationship that grew out of a close friendship
with a colleague. He deeply regrets the hurt this has caused
his wife," Downard said in the statement.
He said at Rundle's invitation, Davidar had played
tennis with her and in 2007, Davidar suggested to her that the
relationship become "more romantic", but the woman said she
had more than one suitor, he being one among them, and that it
would be important to her that any such relationship is not
kept a secret.
Accepting the situation, Davidar wrote to her personal
e-mails, read poetry to her and the two exchanged gifts from
time to time, the lawyer said.
In August 2008, Rundle invited Davidar to a tennis
tournament and their personal, social friendship resumed after
a gap of six months during which the two had agreed to keep
their relationship "strictly professional."
Downard said Davidar and Rundle "kissed on two
occasions".
"The first was in Rundle's room during the October
2009 Frankfurt Book Fair referred to in Rundle's claim.
However, contrary to Rundle's claim, Davidar did not bully his
way into her room nor did he force himself upon her," he said.
"Two days later, Davidar and Rundle went to dinner at
a restaurant. After dinner, Davidar kissed Rundle again, this
time in his hotel room," the statement said. (MORE) PTI VMN
MRD


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