MBTA to pay $495,000 settlement following hair-pulling incident

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has reached a $495,000 legal settlement with Gabrielle Mondestin, the agency’s Chief Communications Officer, following an incident involving General Manager Phil Eng.

The settlement stems from a 2024 dinner where Eng pulled Mondestin’s hair. While Eng previously apologized and described the event as an “insensitive interaction” and a mistake he owned, the incident led to significant fallout. Under the terms of the agreement signed on August 7, Mondestin will resign from her position on September 18.

The $495,000 payout includes a $240,000 severance payment, equivalent to approximately one year of her salary, and $255,000 to cover damages and legal costs. In her statement, Mondestin noted she is grateful for her time at the MBTA and praised the leadership for striving to create a respectful work environment, while also agreeing to waive further legal action against Eng, the MBTA, or the state of Massachusetts.