The woman alleges that ex-Chief Deputy Clerk P. Nick Floros, who retired Jan. 31 amid a county investigation, simulated sexual acts, exposed himself to her, requested sex and told her he thought about her while having sex with others. He also allegedly touched her inappropriately on many occasions and looked up her dress at least once.

Also named in the lawsuit are Floros' superior, County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, and Salt Lake County. The woman is seeking unspecified monetary damages and an order requiring the county to ensure that female employees are able to work without fear of harassment.

"It's outrageous what happened to her, but what's more outrageous is that the county has known for a long time what was going on and they did nothing," said Ralph Chamness, the woman's attorney.

Floros has called the claims "ludicrous" and "ridiculous." His attorney, Phil Dyer, did not immediately return calls seeking comment Wednesday. John P. Soltis, county division director for civil litigation, said he had not seen the complaint and could not comment.

However, the county has said it took prompt action to end harassment, according to documents from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigated the woman's claims and said it found "reasonable cause" to believe Floros' actions violated federal law.

According to the lawsuit, the female employee and Floros had a past relationship, but it had ended more than four years before the woman became a county employee. She alleges Floros began harassing her soon after she joined the county in May 2001 as an administrative coordinator in the clerk's office.

The lawsuit alleges Floros began to retaliate after the woman repeatedly rebuffed his advances. The woman said she was denied a raise to which she was entitled and received a lower employee evaluation. She alleges Floros belittled her in front of co-workers, forbade her to tell the county personnel department what happened, denied her earned time off and moved her from a private office.

The agency cannot pursue a sexual harassment case against a state agency but can refer such a case to the Department of Justice, said Krista Watson, an EEOC spokeswoman. She said her agency cannot divulge whether it has done or will do so in this case.