Court intern, 18, says Simpson harassing her

  Jonathan T. Lovitt ; Richard Price

  11/05/1996

  USA Today

  FINAL

  Page 03A

  (Copyright 1996)

  SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- An 18-year-old high school senior working at the

  courthouse where O.J. Simpson is fighting his civil suit says she's upset and

  frightened because Simpson has been asking her out and sexually harassing her.

  At least three times, spectators and court officials have seen Simpson

  demonstrate suggestive behavior to blond, blue-eyed Amber McGrath, a paid

  intern who works half-days helping court administrator Jerrianne Hayslett.

  McGrath said Simpson invited her to his home last Thursday for a Halloween

  party. ``So what are you doing tonight?'' McGrath says he asked her. ``Why don't

  you come over to my place and party?''

  McGrath turned him down. ``Here he is at the trial involving the death of his

  ex-wife, who he's supposed to be in love with, and he's hitting on me.''

  Hayslett stressed that McGrath did nothing to encourage the attention.

  ``She's been doing a fabulous job. She was instructed . . . to have no contacts

  with the parties in this case, and she's been following my direction.''

  Simpson is the defendant in a wrongful-death suit by the families of Simpson's

  ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, who were killed in

  1994. Simpson was acquitted of the murders in a criminal trial last year.

  Robert Baker, Simpson's lead lawyer, declined to comment. All parties in the

  case are under a gag order.

  But Simpson's interest in McGrath has been public. Once, the pair accidentally

  bumped into each other. When McGrath excused herself, Simpson said, ``You

  can bump into me anytime you want.''

  On another occasion, as he passed through the courthouse metal detector, he

  eyed McGrath and groaned. ``I want her,'' he said.

  A third incident: While she was bending over in court one day, he made a

  gesture as though he were about to lift her skirt. Court bailiff Vicky McKown

  shook her finger at Simpson, warning him to stop.

  McGrath and Hayslett are concerned that the issue has become such a problem

  McGrath may have to leave. McGrath also can't help recognizing the similarities

  between her and Nicole Brown Simpson. She was also blond and blue-eyed and

  was 18 when Simpson first met her.

  McGrath says she worries about keeping her job. ``I wanted this so much,'' she

  says. ``I really needed the money.''