Indianapolis committee approves $300,000 amendment to investigative contract after survivors’ testimony

The Indianapolis City-County Council Admin & Finance Committee approved an amendment to the investigative contract with the law firm Fisher Phillips that adds up to $300,000 to the firm’s work, the committee chair announced after a roll-call vote that ended 7-5 in favor.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment in which survivors of alleged workplace sexual misconduct, labor and legal advocates, and residents urged broader reforms to city harassment and reporting systems and criticized what they described as omissions and lack of transparency in the Fisher Phillips report.

Emma Davidson, executive director of the National Women’s Defense League, told the committee the issue is systemic and urged the council to adopt stronger, survivor-centered processes. "The people of Indianapolis deserve a government with the ability to respond thoughtfully, fairly, and without political self interest when mistakes come to light," Davidson said. She recommended independent oversight, trauma-informed training, and stronger whistleblower protections.

Multiple women who said they had worked in campaign or city offices described trauma they said was not addressed by…