SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego Mayor Bob Filner did not return to work today at the City Administration Building, but was believed to be involved in a mediation session regarding his future in a downtown San Diego office building.
CBS8 reported that he entered the building around 9 a.m., and was followed about 45 minutes later by Irene McCormack Jackson -- the woman who has sued him and the city for sexual harassment -- and her Los Angeles-based lawyer, Gloria Allred.
City News Service has confirmed that City Council President Todd Gloria and Councilman Kevin Faulconer were taking part in the talks.
According to 10News, Filner's lawyers were negotiating with Allred and the City Attorney's Office in a session presided over by a retired federal judge.
Allred identified the mediator as former U.S. District Court Judge J. Lawrence Irving.
"The mediator has asked us not to comment because the mediation is ongoing and so we have no further comment,'' Allred said outside the building.
Filner's Irvine-based private lawyer, James Payne, said Filner took a "personal week'' last week, but has not responded to inquiries about when he might return to work. The mayor's spokeswoman, Lena Lewis, told City News Service that she would not answer questions today.
Filner, accused of sexual harassment by numerous women and under investigation for alleged misuse of city-issued credit cards and shakedowns of developers, has not been seen in public for around three weeks.
