The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday shut down a former Atlanta city attorney’s bid to revive explosive sexual harassment allegations—closing the door on a case she argued deserved new life under the Court’s own 2024 Muldrow ruling.
High Court Declines to Revisit the Case
In its routine order list, the justices declined to hear Tamara Baines’ October petition seeking to overturn an Eleventh Circuit decision that affirmed summary judgment for the City of Atlanta and Robin Shahar, the former chief counsel of the city’s Law Department.
Baines first sued in January 2019, accusing the city and Shahar of violating Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. As usual, the Court offered no insight into its refusal to intervene.
Allegations of Harassment and Retaliation
Claims Against a High-Profile City Attorney
According to Baines, her 2016 assignment to work under Shahar spiraled into misconduct. She alleged Shahar frequently touched her leg without consent and made repeated sexual advances. Baines also claimed coworkers mocked her as “weird” and “crazy” because she lived with bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.
In December 2016, Baines said Shahar told her that the coworker harassment would cease only if she submitted to Shahar’s advances—a proposition Baines said triggered a severe mental health crisis that forced her to take nearly two months of medical leave.
When she attempted to return in February 2017, Baines said human resources placed her on administrative leave pending a fitness-for-duty evaluation. She was later fired, accused of practicing law while on leave in violation of city policy.
