ATLANTA -- A former official of the Atlanta Falcons has filed a federal lawsuit against team owner Arthur Blank, alleging she was fired after speaking out against the sexual harassment of women staffers.

Carol Faubert, 53, of Alpharetta, who was vice president of human resources, claimed in the suit filed Monday that Blank condoned a work climate in which female employees were treated as "sex objects."

The lawsuit also alleged that Blank dismissed Faubert because she had objected to his refusal to hire women with young children and his decision to prohibit certain employees from earning overtime.

"Her dismissal had nothing to do with her performance," said Larry Pankey, one of Faubert's lawyers.

Susan Bass, the Falcons' vice president for community affairs, issued a statement that denied the lawsuit's claims.

"This lawsuit was filed by a disgruntled former employee whose objective is obvious: to threaten public embarrassment as a means of extracting unwarranted personal gain," the statement said.

Blank, 60, who co-founded The Home Depot, stepped down as co-chairman of the Atlanta-based home and garden company in May 2001. He purchased the Falcons in February 2002.

Faubert, who joined the Falcons in April 2002, was fired nearly a year later in February 2003.