Fresno HR Executive Accused of Sexually Coercing, Threatening Subordinate

A married human resources executive at a California school district allegedly subjected a subordinate to a campaign of sexual harassment, threats, and coercion, including threatening his family and pressuring him into sex, according to an explosive lawsuit. The suit also claims the executive secretly supplemented the subordinate's reduced wages using a personal credit card.

Ja’Vance Coleman, a 42-year-old former NBA prospect at Fresno State, filed the civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of California against former Fresno Unified School District HR director Manjit Atwal and the district. Coleman claims he endured sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and retaliation. The lawsuit brings nine causes of action and has been assigned to Judge Jonathan M. Skiles.

Coleman was hired by the district in January 2023 as a noontime assistant at Columbia Elementary School and later moved to the HR department. The lawsuit alleges Atwal quickly began pressuring Coleman for sexual favors, establishing a pattern of threatening the jobs of Black employees in exchange for sexual acts. Coleman believed refusing Atwal’s advances would lead to his termination or other reprisals.

The suit further alleges Atwal became possessive, falsely accused female colleagues of flirting with Coleman, and isolated him from other staff by moving his desk. After other employees and administrators reportedly became aware of the alleged harassment, Coleman was transferred to Tatarian Elementary School as a campus safety assistant, with his hourly wage reduced from $35 to $25.

According to the complaint, Atwal then began secretly supplementing Coleman's income with cash and purchases made on her personal Target credit card to avoid her husband's notice. When an internal investigation into the alleged hostile work environment began, Atwal reportedly offered Coleman $300 to lie to investigators and deny any sexual relationship or harassment.

The lawsuit states that when Coleman refused her advances toward the end of 2025, Atwal allegedly retaliated. Court documents claim Atwal appeared at Coleman’s mother's house, repeatedly drove past his home, and threatened his family. The suit alleges she warned him that if their relationship became known, his relatives employed by the district would lose their jobs, and his son, a high school basketball player, would be prevented from graduating or attending college.

In another allegation, Atwal reportedly accused Coleman of stealing her jewelry and sent him a news article detailing the lynching of a Black man. The complaint asserts that top Fresno Unified School District executives were aware of Atwal’s alleged conduct but failed to take immediate action to protect Coleman.

Before his tenure with the school district, Coleman was a notable athlete in the Central Valley. He played basketball at Washington Union High School and then for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2004 to 2007, earning All-WAC honors.

Following the lawsuit's filing, former district employees have spoken out about Atwal's alleged behavior. Carla Sewell, a former FUSD office assistant, claimed on social media that Atwal had a history of such conduct, recalling an incident where Atwal allegedly screamed at her. Sewell stated that toxic management and leaders who create unhealthy work environments should face consequences.

Court records indicate that Fresno Unified placed Atwal on extended paid administrative leave for nearly a school year. She was reportedly informed that she would be fired if she did not resign. A spokesperson for the district stated that while they cannot comment on pending litigation or confidential personnel matters, they take all allegations of harassment and discrimination seriously. The spokesperson confirmed that Atwal is no longer employed by the district.