Paula to plead against verdict

WASHINGTON, April 18: Paula Corbin Jones, a workaday American woman whose sexual harassment suit against President Clinton cast a shadow on ...

WASHINGTON, April 18: Paula Corbin Jones, a workaday American woman whose sexual harassment suit against President Clinton cast a shadow on the presidency before it was dismissed on April 1, announced on Thursday that she would appeal a federal court ruling that her suit had no merit.

Facing a battery of TV cameras, arc lights, and flash bulbs in a Dallas conference room, Jones broke down almost as soon as she began to speak, but recovered with the comforting presence of her husband by her side as she expressed her 8220;shock8221; at the lower court8217;s decision, a fortnight after the setback. It was the first time she was reacting directly to the verdict.

8220;I have not come this far to see the law let men who have done such things dodge their responsibility. I believe what Mr Clinton did to me was wrong, and the law protects women who are subjected to that kind of abuse of power,8221; Jones said in a trembling, high-pitched voice in a twangy southern accent as she struggled to master her emotions.

Jones8217; decisionmeans the battle will move to the US Circuit Court of Appeals, and if rejected there could make its way again to the Supreme Court, once again bothering and smothering the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Clinton presidency. It could haunt Clinton even beyond.

But legal experts said Jones and her team would have a tougher battle this time, even as public attention in the case has begun to wane. Many felt the appeals court definition of sexual harassment was consonant with the federal judge8217;s ruling. Jones and her backers, mainly conservative types, will also have to find the money 8212; perhaps up to a million dollars 8212; for their cause. They have already spent about 300,000.

8220;From now on, the Jones case will be more of a low-grade fever for the President than a raging tropical disease,8221; one commentator wrote last night. Clinton8217;s aides made light of the announcement, saying the people had already given their verdict in the case. 8220;Politically, it8217;s over. I don8217;t want to speak ill of the dead andthis case is dead,8221; Presidential counsellor Paul Begala said.

Clinton8217;s attorney Robert Bennett said he was confident the appellate court will not permit Jones and her supporters to pursue the case but raged that 8220;it is unfortunate that our legal system can nonetheless continue to be abused by Jones8217; political and financial supporters who wish to harm the President.8221;

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District Judge Susan Webber Wright threw out Jones8217; case earlier this month, saying that Clinton8217;s alleged behaviour may have been 8220;boorish and offensive8221; but did not constitute sexual harassment. Wright also said the encounter was a single incident 8212; 8220;a mere sexual proposition8221; 8212; that fell far below the legal standard needed to establish a 8220;hostile workplace8221; in a harassment case.

Jones8217; attorney Donovan Campbell challenged that ruling today saying, 8220;We do not think the law permits a male supervisor to expose himself to his female subordinates and ask for sexual favours. There is no one free flash8217; rule recognised in thelaw.8221;

President Clinton who is in Santiago, Chile, for an international summit did not react directly to the development, telling accompanying reporters, 8220;I spent my day with people who are interested in human problems and not so interested in politics.8221;

Jones8217; lawyers indicated that they are still open to an out of court settlement. 8220;There haven8217;t been any rational settlement offers8230; If some adult in control of the other side of this case would like to come forward and make an offer, or even agree to engage in a rational settlement discussion. . . . we will certainly be open to that,8221; Campbell said.