County settles harassment case involving Register of Deeds for $45,000

Surry County's insurance carrier agreed to pay $45,000 to settle sexual harassment and discrimination claims involving Register of Deeds Todd Harris filed by a former employee.

Maria Fernanda Garduno Aguilar, who worked in the Register of Deeds office until her termination in early 2025, filed federal charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May. The EEOC charge was filed against the Surry County government, not against Harris personally, according to the notice of charge. Harris has denied the allegations.

Following the settlement, Garduno Aguilar withdrew her EEOC complaint on Aug. 25, stating the parties had reached a mutual agreement. The settlement documents were executed in July.

Under the agreement, The Travelers Company, the county's liability insurance carrier, agreed to pay $30,000 to Garduno Aguilar and $15,000 to her attorney, Daniel Lyon of Elliot Morgan Parsonage, PLLC in Charlotte.

As part of the settlement, Garduno Aguilar agreed not to seek re-employment with Surry County. The parties agreed to a mutual non-disparagement clause prohibiting negative statements about each other. The county agreed to provide only neutral references upon request, limited to Garduno Aguilar's dates of employment and position held.

Surry County did not admit liability or wrongdoing. The settlement agreement states it "is not intended to be nor shall it be construed as an admission of liability."

The settlement resolved allegations first reported to the county late last year. Garduno Aguilar and another female employee filed complaints in December 2024 alleging Harris engaged in inappropriate workplace conduct dating back to spring 2023.

According to Lyon's March 4, 2025, demand letter, Harris would routinely ask Garduno Aguilar about her weekend activities and dating life, made comments about physical expectations in relationships, and asked her and another employee to clean his house on several occasions.

The letter also alleged Harris made unwanted remarks about Garduno Aguilar's religion after learning she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and sent her private messages suggesting a romantic relationship while her husband was deployed with the armed forces.

Lyon stated in the letter that "this blatant sexual harassment went on for months without cessation."

On Feb. 4, 2025, Garduno Aguilar was offered a transfer to the health department. County officials told her it would not be safe for her to return to the Register of Deeds office, Lyon wrote.

Harris has consistently denied all allegations. "I categorically deny any allegations of harassment. The allegations in the letter are false. There was no misconduct," he said earlier this year. "After a thorough multi-week investigation the fact finders found nothing worthy of an ensuing action."

"Harris has vehemently denied sexually harassing anyone," his attorney, Robert Laws, said. As an elected official rather than a county employee, Harris could not be removed by county commissioners.

The case exposed a significant gap in North Carolina law. While the county controls the budget for the Register of Deeds office, state statute gives the elected register exclusive authority to hire, discharge and supervise their own employees. County officials stated they had no authority to remove Harris from office or discipline him directly.

Unlike other elected officials such as county commissioners, there was no clear process for removing a register of deeds for misconduct. A piece of legislation introduced into the NC Senate to establish some oversight of Registers of Deeds died in sub-committee.