EXCLUSIVE: 'Karma is a b***h!' Woman who was sexually harassed by the dentist who killed Cecil the lion speaks out as he is vilified around the world

  • Tammy Brevik sued Dr Walter Palmer claiming he sexually harassed her when she worked for Minneapolis dentist from 1999 to 2005
  • She received $127,500 settlement after lawsuit and he had to undergo ethics training
  • Palmer has faced an unprecedented barrage of criticism since he killed Cecil the lion in early July
  • Has gone into hiding and closed his dental practice in Bloomington  

This is the blonde assistant who snared a $127,500 payout from lion-killing dentist Walter Palmer for alleged sexual harassment, Daily Mail Online can reveal. 

Tammy Brevik, 43, accused the married clinician of subjecting her to unwanted 'verbal comments and physical conduct' involving her 'breasts, buttocks, and genitalia' in a 2005 complaint.

And a decade later she has little sympathy for her now globally-reviled former boss - exclusively telling Daily Mail Online: 'It's amazing how big this has become - karma is a bitch!'

Dr Palmer, a father-of-two from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, achieved worldwide notoriety after slaying, skinning and beheading Africa's most beloved lion, Cecil.

The big game hunter claims he trusted that his local guides had the required permits when they tracked and shot the protected animal on July 1 during a $55,000 safari excursion.

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Settled: Tammy Brevik sued her dentist boss Walter Palmer, accusing him of unwanted physical contact with her breasts, genitalia and buttocks. She received a $127,500 settlement from the married hunter

Settled: Tammy Brevik sued her dentist boss Walter Palmer, accusing him of unwanted physical contact with her breasts, genitalia and buttocks. She received a $127,500 settlement from the married hunter

River Bluff Dental: Dr. Walter Palmer is the sole practitioner at this surgery in Bloomington, Minneapolis. It has been closed since the intense criticism he has been subject to online and on social media since he admitted to killing Cecil the lion earlier in July on a hunt in Zimbabwe. It is not known if Dr. Palmer was working at River Bluff at the time of the complaint in 2005

River Bluff Dental: Dr. Walter Palmer is the sole practitioner at this surgery in Bloomington, Minneapolis. It has been closed since the intense criticism he has been subject to online and on social media since he admitted to killing Cecil the lion earlier in July on a hunt in Zimbabwe. It is not known if Dr. Palmer was working at River Bluff at the time of the complaint in 2005

Accused: Dr. Walter Palmer was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee and settled out of court and the Minnesota Board of Dentistry ruled the claim dismissed in 2009 

But Zimbabwean authorities have already hauled the two men into court on poaching charges - and say they want to speak to Palmer next.

The balding dentist, 55 - who once bragged her he could skewer a playing card from 100 yards with his compound bow - has been in hiding since being unmasked as Cecil's killer.

He has not been seen at his five-bedroom, $1 million home or his dental surgery in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington has remained closed amid an outpouring of anger from animal rights activists, conservationists and lion-loving celebrities.

Tammy Brevik was known as Tammy George when she worked as a dental assistant at River Bluff Dental practice from 1999 until she was fired in January 2005.

She filed a discrimination suit three months later with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights claiming she was shown the exit after going to a lawyer about her employer's predatory behavior.

Brevik's complaint alleges that she was subjected to 'ongoing and unwelcome sexual harassment by Dr Palmer, but not limited to, verbal comments and physical conduct'.

'I believe my sex was a factor in Respondent's actions in that many of Dr Palmer's comments concerned my breasts, buttocks and genitalia,' she wrote.

'I also believe that my termination was in retaliation for reporting the conduct because I was terminated the day my lawyer contacted Dr Palmer regarding the harassment.'

Dr Palmer denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay his former assistant $127,500 split over two payments.

He was also ordered to complete a jurisprudence exam and an ethics course, as well as writing Brevik a letter of recommendation.

Brevik signed a confidentially clause and an agreement not to disparage her former boss when she secured the settlement in December 2006.

But she confirmed her identify when Daily Mail Online arrived at the suburban home she shares with her husband Justin and their three dogs in New Prague, Minnesota, an hour southwest of Minneapolis.

Peaceful: People gather at River Bluff Dental clinic in protest against the killing of Cecil the lion outside the dental surgery of Dr. Walter Palmer

Stop: Kaitlin Fuller (center) and daughter Autumn, 10, join others gathered at River Bluff Dental clinic in protest against the killing of Cecil

'You know I only keep in contact with a couple of people there and neither of them really want to be part of this,' she said. 'They don't want to be a part of who he's become.

'I have actually already been told by my lawyer that I can't say anything.'

Brevik, now a practice manager at another dental surgery, she had no idea where Palmer might be hiding and had not spoken with any of his family for years.

She added: 'This is huge isn't it?' It's amazing how big this has become. Karma is a bitch - that's all I have to say.'

Palmer has been deluged with social media threats, abuse and even protests outside his practice since news of Cecil's slaughter emerged, with celebrities, models and comedians joining in the condemnation.

Mia Farrow was accused of behaving irresponsibly after she posted his business address online to let her 656,000 followers know where to vent their rage.

Sir Roger Moore described hunting as a 'coward's pastime' in an op-ed piece while Jimmy Kimmel branded Palmer an 'a-hole dentist who wants a lion head over his fireplace'.

Pride: Dr Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who has killed dozens of animals and has admitted shooting and killing Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe

Pride: Dr Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who has killed dozens of animals and has admitted shooting and killing Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe

Dr Palmer (left), an avid big game hunter who has killed dozens of animals, has admitted to being the one who shot and killed Cecil the Lion (not pictured) in Zimbabwe

Dr Palmer (left), an avid big game hunter who has killed dozens of animals, has admitted to being the one who shot and killed Cecil the Lion (not pictured) in Zimbabwe

The singer and gun activist Ted Nugent, however, described the doctor's critics as 'stupid', arguing that slaughtering animals is essential to conservation.

That feeling was echoed by many of the dentist's former friends and patients who accused the animal rights lobby of 'putting a target' on the family's man's back.

'People are entitled to their views on hunting but he's a good man and he doesn't deserve this,' said one.

'Every so often he takes his crew from the practice down to Latin America and they do free dental work for impoverished communities and poor children.

'But you don't hear anything about that, just the bad stuff.'

Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and landowner Honest Ndlovu pleaded not guilty in a Zimbabwean court on Wednesday to a charge of 'failing to supervise, control and take reasonable steps to prevent an unlawful hunt'.

If convicted they could face up to 15 years in prison.

Palmer, their wealthy client, hails from North Dakota and describes himself on his company website as having 'a unique talent for creating dazzling smiles that complement each individuals tooth structure, skin tone, and facial attributes.'

In a letter to his patients Wednesday he further refuted any suggestion of wrongdoing.

'To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted,' he wrote.

'I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.

'I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have.'

Condemnation came from all quarters, including an emotional evisceration by Jimmy Kimmel during his monologue on Tuesday night.

And on Wednesday, the two professional guides that Palmer hired to help him and hunt and a kill a lion after paying a $55,000 permit fee appeared in court in Zimbabwe charged with poaching.

Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu allegedly assisted Dr. Palmer, who has since received death threats, catch and kill the lion.

Dr Palmer claims he had trusted his local guides to meet legal guidelines on his trip to Africa, during which he shot Cecil with a crossbow on July 1 before skinning and beheading him.

The two Zimbabwean men appeared at Hwange magistrates' court, about 435 miles west of the capital Harare, to face poaching charges today.

Meanwhile as the controversy raged and Dr. Palmer still remained out of public sight, he issued a letter of apology to his patients for any inconvenience.

Hayley Hoppe (R) sits with her daughters Piper, 10, (L) and Paisley, 8, (C), in front of the doorway of River Bluff Dental clinic in protest against the killing of Cecil

Hayley Hoppe (R) sits with her daughters Piper, 10, (L) and Paisley, 8, (C), in front of the doorway of River Bluff Dental clinic in protest against the killing of Cecil

Outpouring of grief: A memorial to the famous lion at a Zimbabwe national park who was shot by American dentist Walter Palmer has been set up outside his office in Bloomington, Minnesota, along with a sign calling the hunter a killer

Outpouring of grief: A memorial to the famous lion at a Zimbabwe national park who was shot by American dentist Walter Palmer has been set up outside his office in Bloomington, Minnesota, along with a sign calling the hunter a killer

Explaining that he was a 'life long hunter' who refrained from talking about his passion because he is aware of the deep emotions it stirs, Dr. Palmer said that he was sorry his dental practice had closed.

He expressed regret that he specifically killed Cecil because he was unaware of the lions protected status.

He thanked his patients for support and hoped that the disruption would end sooner rather than later.

Tributes to the butchered lion have poured in at Dr Walter Palmer's office in Bloomington, Minnesota, where protesters dressed as 'dentist hunters' also threw stuffed lions at his house.

The hunter's office and practice website have become a target for animal rights activists disgusted by the dentist's actions, which have resulted in Zimbabwe authorities demanding to speak with him.

At court today, defence lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi said proceedings were delayed by several hours because prosecutors are 'making their assessments'. If convicted, the two Zimbabwean men face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe.

Consequences: Cecil the lion (pictured) was killed by Dr. Walter Palmer and subsequently the Minneapolis dentist has had his life put under scrutiny

Consequences: Cecil the lion (pictured) was killed by Dr. Walter Palmer and subsequently the Minneapolis dentist has had his life put under scrutiny

Mr Bronkhorst, who allegedly acted as Dr Palmer's guide, has been stripped of his licence while he faces criminal charges, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said in a joint statement.

Mr Ndlovu is also facing criminal charges over claims he did not have a hunting permit, the joint statement added.

A family friend said Mr Bronkhorst believed he had acted legally during the hunt and was shocked to find that the lion was wearing a collar.

'The whole thing was perfectly legal. When they found the lion had a collar... he went and reported to the national parks immediately.

'This was just a terrible, very unfortunate act.'

Ire against Dr Palmer first erupted when he was identified as the shooter by The Telegraph on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Fundira, the president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday that Dr Palmer is wanted for the death of Cecil.

Police spokesman Charity Charamba said 'we are looking for Palmer' who allegedly paid $55,000 (£35,000) for a big game permit and traveled from Minneapolis to Africa to kill a lion.

'We arrested two people and now we are looking for Palmer in connection with the same case,' said Ms Charamba.

The dentist is said to be somewhere in the Twin Cities, though calls to numbers listed for his home and office went unanswered Tuesday.

His dental practice was closed when reporters went to knock on the door and a note on the father-of-two's home address referred all callers to a public relations firm in Minneapolis.

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