Sexual harassment victim files civil suit vs. NMC

A former music student at the Northern Marianas College has filed a civil suit before the Superior Court against the island’s lone higher learning institution, seeking $30,000 in total damages after she was sexually harassed and molested by her teacher four years ago.

Meredith Oden enrolled in piano, voice and guitar lessons under the tutelage of the College’s music instructor Bruno Dalla Pozza.
Instead, she was allegedly subjected to a pattern of sexual harassment and molestation.

Ms. Oden has been awarded $375,000 in damages by a 12-man jury in U.S. District Court after it found Mr. Dalla Pozza guilty of sexual harassment. The case is now under appeal at the Ninth Circuit Court.

In a complaint filed through her counsel Douglas Cushnie, Ms. Oden alleged that the College’s Board of Regents and president was negligent in their duties because they failed to discipline Mr. Dalla Pozza.

Ms. Oden alleged that the College has violated due process and equal protection rights as it failed to comply with its own regulations as well as control and train Mr. Dalla Pozza.

While she attended her music class, Mr. Dalla Pozza grabbed and touched her body for several weeks as well as forcibly kissed her on the mouth. Ms. Oden said she found such conduct revolting thus, she dreaded attending his class.

For about two weeks, she did not report to her music class but decided to come back on Feb. 27, 1996 only to inform Mr. Dalla Pozza that she was quitting.

This enraged Mr. Dalla Pozza who began yelling at Ms. Oden. As she was about to leave the room, the music teacher attempted to grab and kiss her.

On March 8, 1996, Ms. Oden filed a complaint with the College against Mr. Dalla Pozza alleging sexual harassment, battery and invasion of privacy. However, on April 10, 1996, the music teacher even continued to intimidate her by trapping her inside the lady’s restroom at the College.

Before the hearing on her complaint was held, Mr. Dalla Pozza even threatened her inside the NMC campus which made her fearful for her safety. This forced her to leave NMC without completing the course. She now resides in New Zealand.

An administrative hearing was conducted in January 1997 and a month later, the hearing committee concluded that Mr. Dalla Pozza was guilty of one count of sexual harassment. NMC officials were also made aware of similar incidents involving Mr. Dalla Pozza where he sexually harassed other women in the College.