Lake Oswego-based Directors Mortgage and CEO Mark Hanna face a lawsuit over Hanna’s alleged inappropriate behavior toward the daughter of a former company executive.
Former vice president of strategic development Anthony Levrets filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Hanna and the mortgage company in Clackamas County Circuit Court Jan. 29.
In the lawsuit, Levrets accused Hanna of sexually grooming his 16-year-old daughter during her summer internship at the company. Specifically, the lawsuit claimed that Hanna talked about his sex life, his affinity for fellatio and losing his virginity. He also invited her to stay with him on a trip to Orange County, California without telling her parents.
The Review does not name the alleged victims of abuse or harassment.
“Defendant Hanna, individually and on behalf of Defendant Directors, subjected (the daughter) to a sex-based hostile work environment, to sexual harassment (of a minor) in the workplace and failed to take reasonable steps necessary to prevent an ongoing hostile work environment and sexual harassment from occuring,” the lawsuit reads.
After Levrets filed a complaint with the company, he was fired.
Levrets’ court filing showed that Directors Mortgage violated company policy and state law by retaliating against him through terminating his employment and not conducting an investigation or holding Hanna accountable for his actions.
Levrets seeks $1.5 million for loss of pay related to his termination and as much as $2 million for non-economic damages (embarrassment, anxiety, anger damage to reputation, etc.)
“Directors acted with malice, and their actions were intentional and willful. Directors further acted with reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm to Mr. Levrets and with a conscious indifference to his health, safety, and welfare,” the lawsuit reads.
“Such conduct exceeds the bounds of socially tolerable conduct and is the type that punitive damages deter.”
The lawsuit also seeks economic and noneconomic damages awarded to the daughter, not exceeding $2 million.
The lawsuit also references a complaint filed by Directors Mortgage against Levrets and his new company KneXas. This lawsuit filed in late 2023 claims that Levrets used company funds and time as he was working to start the new company.
“During the course of Levrets’ employment, he engaged in conduct that was disloyal to the Company and in breach of his fiduciary duty of loyalty as an officer of the Company,” the lawsuit reads.
Levrets’ lawsuit described such claims as “factually and legally unsubstantiated” and the lawsuit as retaliatory.
Willamette Week first reported news of the lawsuit against Hanna and Directors Mortgage.
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