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Brookfield lawyer accused of sexually harassing former colleague

By: Michaela Paukner, [email protected]//November 2, 2020//

Brookfield lawyer accused of sexually harassing former colleague

By: Michaela Paukner, [email protected]//November 2, 2020//

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The Brookfield lawyer Nathan E. DeLadurantey stands accused by state regulators of sexually harassing a former colleague at his law firm.

A complaint filed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation in September charges DeLadurantey with one count of misconduct for subjecting the attorney Heidi Miller to unwanted physical contact, sexual advances and inappropriate comments.

DeLadurantey is the owner of DeLadurantey Law Office in Brookfield, which deals with consumer litigation. Miller worked at the firm from 2012 to 2017. The complaint said she left because DeLadurantey had “engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behavior” and at times sexually harassed her.

The complaint said DeLadurantey would tell Miller she was lucky to have a job with him. He said it was unlikely another firm would hire her or pay her as much because her degree was from a non-ABA accredited law school. He’d also tell her she wasn’t competent to manage her own firm — statements that made Miller fear for her prospects away from his firm.

In 2014, as the two were often traveling together for work, Miller talked to DeLadurantey about needing to maintain clear boundaries in their social and professional relationship.

It was advice DeLadurantey didn’t heed, according to the complaint. Miller noted various times when DeLadurantey had made her feel uncomfortable, including when he asked her to take weekend trips with him to prepare for a trial, slept next to her while traveling for a trial because “he did not want to be alone” and suggested she purchase “lucky underwear” for trial.

The complaint said DeLadurantey made physical advances during 2015 — pulling Miller’s legs into his lap while they were on an airplane, attempting to pull her head into his lap, putting his hands on her legs while they were driving and holding her hand. Miller said she was afraid to tell him to stop immediately because he was her boss, but she eventually told him that she was uncomfortable and repeated the need to maintain boundaries. DeLadurantey apologized and agreed to change his behavior.

However, about two months later, the complaint said DeLadurantey again made unwanted sexual advances while the two were staying at an Airbnb in San Francisco for a deposition. Miller said she was upset and afraid to the point where she felt physically ill.

Later that night, the complaint said DeLadurantey offered to take her to her bedroom and hold her. Miller said no and told DeLadurantey she may have to quit the firm. The complaint said DeLadurantey then went into Miller’s bed, but Miller refused to share a bed with him, and he left the room.

DeLadurantey apologized the next day and said he was drunk, according to the complaint, but Miller said their work relationship deteriorated afterward. She said DeLadurantey made inappropriate comments about her appearance, attire and work performance. She said he made it clear that he preferred when she wore makeup and said she “looked like trash” when she did not. Miller said she felt like the comments were an attempt to control her and retaliate against her for rejecting his advances.

In 2017, Miller told DeLadurantey that she applied for a job with another firm, but she’d prefer to continue working for him if they could work out their issues through outside counseling. The complaint said DeLadurantey told her that he could no longer trust her, and Miller left the firm about three weeks later.

The OLR is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to privately reprimand DeLadurantey for his behavior.

DeLadurantey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DeLadurantey was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin in 2007. He’s a graduate of Oak Brook College of Law, the same law school Miller attended.

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