Former Fresno State administrator at center of sexual harassment scandal sues CSU trustees

Former Fresno State administrator Frank Lamas has filed a lawsuit against the California State University board of trustees, according to the Fresno Bee.

The new suit filed by Lamas seeks reimbursement for legal fees and court costs — to the tune of $25,000 — related to two lawsuits that name him as a codefendant.

Lamas was at the center of a sexual harassment scandal that ultimately led to the resignation of CSU Chancellor and former Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro. An independent probe ordered by CSU trustees found that Castro turned a “blind eye” to over a dozen allegations of sexual harassment against Lamas.

The suit claims CSU broke the law by not providing Lamas a defense or indemnifying him against these lawsuits.

One suit brought by a university employee in 2022 claiming harassment and retaliation named Lamas, alongside Castro and the CSU board. Another case brought by a student alleging sexual harassment named Lamas, Castro and the CSU board — though Lamas and Castro were later dismissed from the case.

Lamas sent a statement to the Bee: “I deny the allegations made against me in this lawsuit as in the previous one where charges were dismissed against me.”