Woman says Nashville nonprofit leader 'masturbated in front of her' in federal lawsuit

The leader of a Nashville nonprofit resigned in January amid allegations that he repeatedly sexually harassed an employee — including one instance when the woman said he exposed his penis and masturbated in front of her in his office.

The allegations were made public this week in a lawsuit filed in federal court. In it, the employee, a woman identified as Jane Doe, said "she was subjected to an ongoing pattern of assault, battery and ongoing and severe sexually harassing behavior" while working at the Nashville nonprofit Matthew 25, which houses, feeds and treats homeless men.

The lawsuit names former Executive Director James Finchum as a defendant along with Matthew 25. According to the lawsuit, Finchum exposed himself, touched her and made sexually suggestive comments for more than a year.

Finchum resigned this year shortly after the board of directors at Matthew 25 launched an internal investigation.

Nashville police also are pursuing a separate and ongoing investigation related to a complaint the woman filed with a sex crimes detective earlier this year, a police spokesman said.

Woman says Nashville nonprofit leader 'masturbated in front of her' in federal lawsuit