Civil lawsuit over Vulcan harassment in '05 settled

Three female bartenders who sued the St. Paul Winter Carnival and its 2005 Vulcan King have resolved their civil cases, their attorneys confirmed Thursday.

The women worked at Alary's Bar in February 2005 when they were inappropriately touched by Vulcan King Tom Trudeau. One lawsuit, filed in October 2006 by Jamie Kissel and Kate Richardson, claimed that Trudeau poked at their genitals, grabbed their breasts and forcibly kissed them during the Vulcan Krewe's "garter ritual."

Trudeau pleaded guilty in 2005 to fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the incident and was sentenced to probation and community service.

The women's lawsuit had asked for more than $50,000 in damages. It is not known how much they received in the resolution because the agreement was confidential, the women's attorney, Lori Peterson, said Thursday. A lawsuit brought by a third bartender, Cassandra Lee, was resolved last summer. That suit was filed last March. That also involved a confidentiality agreement "and I am of course not going to violate it," said attorney Bob Espeset.

The Vulcan Krewe is no longer allowed to perform the garter ritual. Other rule changes in the wake of the incidents include not allowing carnival royalty to drink alcohol except at the end of the day's schedule and they must have scheduled appearances approved by carnival staff.

A statement from the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, producer of the Winter Carnival, said the foundation was abiding by the resolution. PAT PHEIFER