A former human resources director for Fresno Unified School District is facing a civil lawsuit alleging she sexually harassed and coerced a subordinate, threatened his family, and secretly paid him off with her own credit card to cover up her conduct.
The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California and assigned to Judge Jonathan M. Skiles in Department 503 of Fresno Superior Court, names Manjit Atwal and the district as defendants. It brings nine causes of action on behalf of Ja’Vance Coleman, 42, a former Fresno State basketball standout who starred at Washington Union High School before playing three seasons for the Bulldogs from 2004 to 2007 and earning All-WAC honors.
According to the complaint, Coleman was hired by the district in January 2023 as a noontime assistant at Columbia Elementary School before moving into FUSD’s human resources department that spring, where he worked under Atwal.
The suit alleges Atwal propositioned Coleman soon after he joined her department and had established what the filing describes as a “pattern of threatening the jobs or job-related benefits of black employees in exchange for sexual acts.” Coleman says he believed refusing her advances would cost him his job or lead to other retaliation.
The complaint also alleges Atwal grew “territorial,” falsely accusing female coworkers of flirting with Coleman and rearranging his desk to isolate him from other staff.
Pay Cut, Then Secret Payments
After other employees and administrators reportedly began suspecting the harassment, FUSD transferred Coleman to Tatarian Elementary School as a campus safety assistant — a move that cut his pay from $35 an hour to $25 an hour, according to the suit.
The filing alleges Atwal then began secretly making up the difference herself, supplementing his income with off-the-books cash and purchases on her personal Target credit card, allegedly “so that her husband would not notice.”
When the district opened an internal investigation into the hostile work environment, the complaint alleges Atwal offered Coleman a $300 bribe to deny to investigators that any sexual relationship or harassment had taken place.
Alleged Threats Against His Family
The lawsuit claims that when Coleman finally refused her advances near the end of 2025, Atwal retaliated. Court papers allege she showed up at a house owned by Coleman’s mother, repeatedly drove past his home, and threatened his relatives.
According to the suit, Atwal warned Coleman that if anyone found out about their relationship, his family members employed by the district would lose their jobs, and his son — a high school point guard — would be prevented from graduating or going to college.
The complaint further alleges Atwal accused Coleman of stealing her jewelry and sent him a news article describing the lynching of a Black man in a local park. Coleman’s suit alleges top FUSD executives were aware of Atwal’s conduct but failed to act promptly to protect him.
Other Employees Speak Up
Since the lawsuit became public, former district employees have come forward describing similar treatment. Former FUSD office assistant Carla Sewell said in a social media statement that Atwal had “been like this for years,” recounting an incident in which Atwal “began screaming and yelling at me to the point where she was asked to leave the room.”
“Toxic management and higher-ups who create unhealthy work environments should not be allowed to continue without consequences,” Sewell said.
Court records show the district eventually placed Atwal on extended paid administrative leave for nearly a full school year before telling her to resign or be fired.
An FUSD spokesperson said the district cannot comment on pending litigation or confidential personnel matters but takes all allegations of harassment and discrimination seriously, confirming that Atwal is no longer employed by the district.
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