The defendants of a sexual harassment suit filed by a Binghamton University employee are requesting that their case be moved from the Southern District of the United States District Court in New York to the Northern District.

There are a total of five defendants being sued by the athletics department’s major gifts officer Elizabeth Williams, including senior associate athletic director Jason Siegel, assistant athletic director for development Chris Lewis and the University itself.

Also included in the suit are two BU alumni who attended a fundraiser in Manhattan in January 2009.

According to Siegel’s attorney, Dave Gouldin of Levene, Gouldin and Thompson LLP, the motion to move the case is due mainly to “convenience and justice.”

“There is much more backlog [in the Southern District],” Gouldin said. “This motion for a change in venue is the initial action, and it will be followed by a motion to dismiss.”

According to a report by The Press & Sun-Bulletin, the harassment allegedly began on Williams’ first day of work and carried on for about two months before she filed a complaint with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March.

Alumnus Larry Hollander put $100 bills on a table and told her to tell him to stop when there were enough there for her to sleep with him, according to the report. On another occasion, alumnus Michael Marcus asked her to perform as a topless waitress at a party he was organizing.

Williams also accused Lewis and Siegel of lewd comments, and claimed that the latter groped her.

Both Williams’ attorney and Lewis did not return calls made Thursday afternoon.

According to the report, Marcus has recently claimed that he could not have created a hostile work environment for Williams because he had only met her once and is not an employee of the University. Siegel also claims that he was acting as a representative of the non-profit Binghamton University Foundation and not as an employee of BU.

According to University spokeswoman Gail Glover, University officials have conducted an internal investigation and have uncovered evidence that may disprove many of the events that Williams has alleged.

“Yes, we are refuting her … claims,” Glover said. “While we recognize her right to file legal action, we will mount a vigorous defense.”