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directors and owners were Mr. Bauer, Mr. Berkus, Mr. Benedek, and
Mr. Cosay. Although Mr. Harris and Mr. Schiff were partners,
they did not have a say in the operation of UTA. During this
period, there was infighting between Mr. Bauer and Mr. Berkus
that created an acrimonious atmosphere at UTA.
At the March 1996 meeting, UTA offered to raise petitioner’s
salary to $2.5 million per year; however, UTA wanted petitioner
to commit to 5 years with UTA. At this time, UTA was having
problems making deals and re-signing junior agents. Petitioner
felt that no one at UTA wanted to address the problems petitioner
had with UTA. Petitioner stated that he would not agree to the
offer, he would finish his contract, and then he would leave UTA.
Petitioner believed that the other partners were frightened that
petitioner’s clients would leave with him.
Nancy Jones’s Accusation of Sexual Harassment
During early 1996, Nancy Jones was a talent agent at UTA.
Petitioner helped hire Ms. Jones. She worked with petitioner in
the television department for many years. Although petitioner
did not describe his relationship with Ms. Jones as a “romantic
relationship”, at one point he and Ms. Jones had a “personal and
sexual relationship”. They went on vacation together to Mexico
and traveled together outside the office.
In early 1996, petitioner talked with Ms. Jones about her
performance. He felt that she was not working hard, she was
embarrassing clients, and she had claimed to be sick when she
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