A former employee of the Golden State Warriors has filed suit against the team and guard Monta Ellis, alleging that he sexually harassed her, including sending her a graphic photo of his genitalia.

Erica Smith, who started working as the team’s director of community relations in 2007, said the team tried to cover up the alleged misconduct by Ellis and the team retaliated by laying her off this August.

Her attorney claims that Smith rejected a request by the team earlier this year to resign and take “a little money.” He said they ultimately told her she was being laid off because her job was being eliminated.

Smith claims that Ellis began texting her late last year, but she told him she wasn’t interested in a relationship because he was married. Her attorney said the texts became sexual in nature and one included a picture of his genitalia.

In a statement, the Warriors said that they “take seriously any allegations of harassment” and when they were made aware of “a consensual relationship between Ellis and Smith, they told both to stop.”

The team denied the allegations and said the lawsuit is “driven by money.”

Photo Credit: Keith Allison, via Wikimedia Commons

• Tag: Former Employee, Golden State Warriors, Lawsuit, Monta Ellis, Sexual Harrassment, Texts