In a strange twist for a purveyor of clean-cut comic books, a co-CEO of Archie Comics has been temporarily barred from the companys Mamaroneck, N.Y.-based offices for violating an order to reduce her role at the company.
Yes, one of the owners of the red-headed Archie Andrews character.
A federal judge on Tuesday placed a temporary restraining order against Archie Comics co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit to keep her from entering the companys offices or playing any role at the company, reported The New York Post, after Archie Comics filed a suit in Manhattan Supreme Court accusing Silberkleit of violating a previous court order to limit her role there.
Archie Comics had filed a previous suit against Silberkleit alleging that she harassed and intimidated employees, according to court documents.
Silberkleit circulated a press release last week in which she referred to herself as the seasoned anti-bullying and literacy advocate, and called for entries to a student essay contest about bullying that would accompany a non-profit comic book about the topic.
But on Tuesday, the restraining order was filed as part of a contempt hearing about whether Silberkleit violated a previous order to limit her involvement in company business until the original case was closed, reported The New York Daily News.
According to court documents, employee complaints about Silberkleit's behavior at the office in 2011 led to the contracting of a human resource consulting firm to investigate the matter, and the firm found that there is a serious problem in the company and recommended that Silberkleit should have no further contact with the companys employees and vendors.
The filing said: Several employees mentioned being scared of Nancy. They believe
that her behavior is erratic and they are fearful of what could happen. Other employees feel concerned that Nancy could threaten their well-being, jobs and even physically (sic).
Among employees complaints were that Silberkleit referred to male staff members as penises, accused two employees of having an affair, and alluded that a female staffer was liked by other employees solely based on the size of her breasts.
Neither Silberkleits nor the plaintiff's attorneys would respond to requests for comment, but an attorney representing co-CEO Jon Goldwater recently told The Daily News that Silberkleit had also visited the Archie offices last December accompanied by a former player for the NFLs Baltimore Colts team.
But at Tuesday's hearing, Silberkleit reportedly told the judge that she was the victim of a "smear campaign" by Goldwater and other Archie staffers, reported The Post.
