Talk Host Accuses Colleague Of Sexual Harassment, Assault

Inga Barks

CBS affiliate KBAK-TV/BAKERSFIELD is reporting that former AMERICAN GENERAL MEDIA Talk KERN-A/BAKERSFIELD host INGA BARKS, now at PEAK BROADCASTING Talk KMJ-A/FRESNO, is suing her former employer and colleague SCOTT COX for sexual harassment and assault.

BARKS, in a suit filed AUGUST 19th in KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, alleged COX "groped her, forced her to kiss him, demanded both conventional and oral sex, and called her by derogatory names, among other claims," the TV station reports. She claimed that AMERICAN GENERAL MEDIA took no action despite her attempts to get the company to intervene and despite allegations being made by others.

The suit contains allegations that COX, after initially being cordial and even driving her to LOS ANGELES for business while BARKS' husband was ill and changing a tire for her, began to make inappropriate sexual comments, which increased when they were paired for a show in 2002. 

BARKS alleged that COX then began to kiss and grope her and made comments on and off the air about her breasts, sex life, vagina, and STDs, and alleged that after she complained and management did nothing, COX slammed her into the wall. She added that she stayed on the job because she needed the work due to her husband's medical condition, but alleged that management reacted to COX' behavior by saying "oh, that's just SCOTT." She alleged that in 2008, COX farted in her face while she was on the air. And, most recently, she alleged, COX asked for sex from her on the air and pulled her into a corner of the studio to kiss her and grab her butt, followed by text messages saying he was "home alone until 2."

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