Witnesses: Street report on Carl Greene not true

Greene
Greene
GreeneGALLERY: Greene
BY DAN GERINGER, Daily News Staff Writer geringd@phillynews.com, 215-854-5961
Posted: February 06, 2013

RIGHT FROM the trial's get-go last week, attorney Clifford Haines attacked the 2010 firing of his client Carl Greene, the former Philadelphia Housing Authority executive director, as "the most public flogging of any person in public or private life since the president of the United States was impeached."

Greene is suing PHA for almost a million dollars, plus damages, for wrongful termination.

On Monday, Haines continued to harpoon former PHA Chairman John Street's investigation of Greene's failure to tell the PHA board about his six-figure settlements of sexual-harassment cases brought against him.

Street's 2010 investigative report alleged that four PHA staffers engaged in a "conspiracy to cover up the sexual-harassment charges and settlements" because they were "under duress" from Greene.

Two of the named staffers - former PHA lawyers Sibyl Bryant and Fred Pasour - flatly denied the report's assertions on Monday.

Bryant, who worked for PHA from 2002 to 2007, said, "I would never cover up for Mr. Greene" and "I've never violated my duty as a lawyer."

When Haines asked, "Mr. Pasour, was there a conspiracy to cover up sexual-harassment settlements?" - Pasour, who worked for PHA from 2003 to 2011, firmly replied, "No."

When asked if Greene put any duress on him to cover up the settlements, Pasour said, "No."

Street, who spent two days on the witness stand last week fending off Haines' attacks on the PHA investigative report, may have to do it again.

The judge gave Haines permission to recall Street and his former PHA assistant, Kafi Lindsay, after early drafts of the investigative report were removed from privileged status and made available to Haines for the first time.

On Twitter: @DanGeringer

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