The Source Sex Trial: Former Source EIC Talks After $15.5 Mil Victory
The day after winning a $15.5 million judgment in federal court yesterday (October 24), former Source editor-in-chief Kim Osorio addressed the media about the decision, the experience and the future of The Source magazine.
Osorio and her two attorneys, Ken Thompson and Doug Wigdor, addressed the room full of reporters and cameramen in a conference room on the 59th floor of the Empire State Building, where the attorneys' offices are located.
"I stood up for my rights and I was terminated because I did that," Osorio said. "That's just the bottom line."
The jury awarded Osorio $4 million each from the magazine and former Source executives Raymond "Scott" Benzino, Dave Mays, respectively. She was also awarded $3.5 million from Benzino for defamation.
"She took a tremendous risk," Thompson said of his client. "There was no guarantee that we were going to win this trial."
But Osorio took the stand and weathered a fire storm of accusations, recounting tales of goings on at The Source that made the "bible of hip-hop" sound more like a frat house.
Today, the media grilled her for juicy details, asking repeatedly for Osorio to recount specific events. She remained vague, citing the court transcript for more information. "It was really hard to get on the stand and relive all those things," she said. "It's all in the transcript."
However, Osorio did offer that she was accused of having relationships with co-workers and rappers. She laid out plenty of details in her two days on the stand, telling the jury of indecent propositions, illegal drug use, porn in the office and a litany of miscellaneous debauchery.
The defense suggested Osorio take some blame for her work environment, because it was a hip-hop publication that routinely published sexy pictures and four-letter words. A reporter at the conference asked Osorio if she should have known better.
"If you work at Playboy, does that mean it's ok to have strippers in the office?" Osorio countered. "If you watch gangster movies it doesn't mean it's ok for you to go out and shoot somebody."
The trial is over, but with both The Source and Mays in bankruptcy, it may be a long, arduous fight for Osorio to collect any of those millions the jury rewarded her, any time soon.
But Thompson is hopeful, saying The Source didn't file bankruptcy voluntarily. "They went into bankruptcy kicking and screaming. They still have 70-plus employees ... They are a viable company."
When asked how she'd feel about potentially putting The Source out of business with her hefty collection, Osorio showed a surprising soft spot for the publication-especially when several of the execs who were employed there during her ordeal remain at the magazine.
"I think that brand is stronger than any one person who worked for it, or owned it," Osorio said. "It represents hip-hop. I would be sad to see it go."
Although representatives from The Source have yet to comment on the verdict, Mays and Benzino say they aren't going anywhere.
"We are happy that the jury has cleared us of any wrongdoing on all charges of sexual harassment and gender discrimination," the duo said via a statement. "The Source was one of the most desirable places of employment for members of the hip-hop community... The Source has been an empowering platform for countless young people, women and minorities who would never have gotten the same opportunities anywhere else."
According to the statement, Mays and Benzino also plan to appeal the verdict.
Osorio and her two attorneys, Ken Thompson and Doug Wigdor, addressed the room full of reporters and cameramen in a conference room on the 59th floor of the Empire State Building, where the attorneys' offices are located.
"I stood up for my rights and I was terminated because I did that," Osorio said. "That's just the bottom line."
The jury awarded Osorio $4 million each from the magazine and former Source executives Raymond "Scott" Benzino, Dave Mays, respectively. She was also awarded $3.5 million from Benzino for defamation.
"She took a tremendous risk," Thompson said of his client. "There was no guarantee that we were going to win this trial."
But Osorio took the stand and weathered a fire storm of accusations, recounting tales of goings on at The Source that made the "bible of hip-hop" sound more like a frat house.
Today, the media grilled her for juicy details, asking repeatedly for Osorio to recount specific events. She remained vague, citing the court transcript for more information. "It was really hard to get on the stand and relive all those things," she said. "It's all in the transcript."
However, Osorio did offer that she was accused of having relationships with co-workers and rappers. She laid out plenty of details in her two days on the stand, telling the jury of indecent propositions, illegal drug use, porn in the office and a litany of miscellaneous debauchery.
The defense suggested Osorio take some blame for her work environment, because it was a hip-hop publication that routinely published sexy pictures and four-letter words. A reporter at the conference asked Osorio if she should have known better.
"If you work at Playboy, does that mean it's ok to have strippers in the office?" Osorio countered. "If you watch gangster movies it doesn't mean it's ok for you to go out and shoot somebody."
The trial is over, but with both The Source and Mays in bankruptcy, it may be a long, arduous fight for Osorio to collect any of those millions the jury rewarded her, any time soon.
But Thompson is hopeful, saying The Source didn't file bankruptcy voluntarily. "They went into bankruptcy kicking and screaming. They still have 70-plus employees ... They are a viable company."
When asked how she'd feel about potentially putting The Source out of business with her hefty collection, Osorio showed a surprising soft spot for the publication-especially when several of the execs who were employed there during her ordeal remain at the magazine.
"I think that brand is stronger than any one person who worked for it, or owned it," Osorio said. "It represents hip-hop. I would be sad to see it go."
Although representatives from The Source have yet to comment on the verdict, Mays and Benzino say they aren't going anywhere.
"We are happy that the jury has cleared us of any wrongdoing on all charges of sexual harassment and gender discrimination," the duo said via a statement. "The Source was one of the most desirable places of employment for members of the hip-hop community... The Source has been an empowering platform for countless young people, women and minorities who would never have gotten the same opportunities anywhere else."
According to the statement, Mays and Benzino also plan to appeal the verdict.
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