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Five Biggest Sexual Harassment Cases
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Jun 2006
After being in the spotlight throughout the 1990s, sexual harassment is popping up in the news again. But nothing returns without a twist. This time the focus is on legislation, not lawsuits. California is undoubtedly setting national trends after passing some of the nation's strictest provisions on sexual harassment in the workplace.
What is sexual harassment? According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), sexual harassment includes:
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature ... when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment.
With a renewed focus on sexual harassment, let's look back at the issue's history with the five biggest sexual harassment cases in the U.S.
1. Anita Hill/Justice Clarence Thomas
The first sexual harassment decision was actually handed down in 1976. But it wasn't until the 1991 confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas that the concept entered national consciousness.
The country watched live coverage of Anita Hill (Thomas's former colleague and a law professor) accusing Thomas of using inappropriate language and sexually harassing female colleagues when they worked together.
Since these allegations were never part of a lawsuit, Hill's claims were not proved or disproved. And Thomas denied all allegations. Thomas's nomination was barely approved by the Senate in a vote of 52-48.
It should be noted that in the year after the Thomas hearings, the number of sexual harassment cases filed rose by 50%.
2. Paula Jones/President Bill Clinton
Staying in the realm of the government, President Clinton himself came under fire for alleged sexual harassment. Paula Jones was a state employee when Clinton was Governor of Arkansas. In 1991, she claimed that Clinton exposed himself and asked her for oral sex in a hotel room. Clinton denied all allegations.
After several rounds of filing, Jones's lawsuit was dismissed for failing to state a claim. During the appeals process, a settlement was reached. Jones dropped her suit against Clinton in exchange for $850,000. However, she never received an admission of guilt or an apology.
Jones's allegations paved the way for investigating the President's sex life. The Monica Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment of President Clinton were big follow-ups to the Paula Jones case.
3. The Tailhook Convention
Still within the government and also in 1991, the Tailhook scandal involved sexual allegations against the armed forces. This case put the spotlight on what some women had been experiencing for years. Former Navy lieutenant Paula Coughlin was one of more than 80 women who alleged they were sexually assaulted. The assailants were drunken Naval and Marine officers attending a conference at Vegas' Hilton Hotel. Coughlin later left the Navy. She said the organization failed to investigate her allegations and then retaliated against her for being a "whistleblower."
Coughlin ended up suing the hotel for failing to provide adequate security. She was awarded $1.7 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages.
4. Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing
In 1998, Mitsubishi agreed to pay $34 million to female workers at the Normal, Illinois plant where the work environment was anything but normal. In fact, the company was charged with allowing a hostile setting for women since at least 1990. In addition to the $34 million, Mitsubishi paid out several more million in individual suits.
The women were routinely fondled, verbally abused, and subjected to obscene jokes, behavior, and graffiti. One male worker even fired an air gun between a female's legs. The abusive work environment caused many women to quit. Others were simply denied promotions when they refused to grant sexual favors.
The silver lining in this cloud is that Mitsubishi has impressively cleaned up its tarnished reputation. The company immediately hired Lynn Martin, former Secretary of Labor. Martin overhauled the anti-sexual harassment and complaint system, which now boasts a zero tolerance policy.
5. University of Colorado Football Program
Two women charged the University of Colorado's football program with sexual harassment. The women claimed they were sexually assaulted in 2001 at an off-campus party by Colorado football players and recruits. They allege the university is liable for fostering the atmosphere that led to the alleged assaults, claiming the school tries to draw in the best high school football prospects with sex-and-alcohol-parties.
The women's suit was filed under Title IX, which promotes gender equality in education. Vastly different from the sexual harassment claims described above, violations of Title IX require showing that the school had actual notice of sexual harassment and then acted with deliberate indifference. The case was recently thrown out in a U.S. District Court, but the women have appealed.
After the allegations, the University of Colorado Board of Regents backed an independent investigation. The results found that drugs, alcohol and sex have been used to draw in recruits but not with the sanctioning of university officials. The school now has some of the strictest recruitment policies in the country.
Cracking Down on Sexual Harassment
These cases prove sexual harassment is not to be taken lightly. As courts, employers, and schools take it more seriously, Americans can rest assured that a claim of sexual harassment won't ever be ignored. And new legislation for workplace sexual harassment training in places like California will make sure employees know the rules upfront.
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Comments
Submitted by on Mar 12, 2010 - 7:29PM
I have filed a sexual harassment case against the United States Postal Service. I have a lawyer and the case has dragged out for two years. I have lost everything and I am currently under a doctors care. I really need someone to help me with this case. Please contact me if you know of anyone that can help. Thanking you in advance.
Submitted by on May 19, 2010 - 10:33AM
While LegalZoom cannot advise you, we can certainly help you find a lawyer to answer your questions. Please visit our attorney referral network: http://attorneyconnect.legalzoom.com
Submitted by on Jun 17, 2011 - 12:23PM
Attorney Judy Cates Swansea il just won a record settlement of 95 million for a sexual harassment case
Submitted by on Jun 12, 2010 - 5:02PM
Around 2007 I have filed a sexual harassment case against the County. I have a lawyer and the case has dragged out for four years. Accoriding to my attorney the county has offered me $50.ooo and my job or $100.000 and stop working for the county,and I lost all my benefits my vacations, my accumulated time from 18 years working with the county and I am currently under a doctors care. I really need someone to help me with this case. Please contact me if you know of anyone that can help. Thanking you in advance. What ever decition I take the $50.000 or the $100.000 I have to pay to my attorney the $40% according to my attorney.
The county sent me a letter accempting that they found some allegation sustantiated in my case, but my attorney didn't presented the letter the day of the mediation.
I believe my attorney is not doing his work, becouse the county attorney said that they didn't showed any proof on time.
Please, this has to be kept private and not to be shown publicly.
If you can answer in Spanish will help me alot.
Thank you.
Submitted by on Jul 21, 2010 - 11:05AM
Hi Ana, we're so sorry to hear about your situation. We'd love to help, but our specialty is legal documents, not legal advice. We can help you find a lawyer to answer your questions, though. Check out our attorney referral network: http://attorneyconnect.legalzoom.com
Submitted by on Aug 5, 2012 - 12:43AM
hi, ive been at my job for 3 months and at first i just thought my boss was being just a nice old man , however he i fell used and sexually harrased by the way he touches me an dwans hugs ans kisse sosme time in front of certain workers the things he says and , follows me aske me to chnge things when he can do them , tells me i can make it big in this comapny , tells me have i eveer made this much money before so fast . i sick of it i wont to cry at night i wont to punch him for trying to use my liveley hood to feed my kids i hate this man . when he touches me i feel like running home and washing my skin off, i have not clearly said do not touch me but what doeshe need a sign on my forehead. if im not showing i wont this why oush. he told me my dead line is in two weeks this is after an army man came in the store and asked me out he looked as if he wonted to kill him.. the female boss is the worst she said she hired all these young girlsso he can look at butt all day so she can do what she wontes to do i hate my job ... but my daughters and grandson depend on me... our store evaulation is coming up and going away for training is up in the air if i dont give him what he wontes i may not have a job help me
Submitted by on Aug 10, 2012 - 7:59AM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom. We are sincerely sorry to hear of the situation you are currently experiencing. While we cannot offer legal advice on this matter, we may be able to help you find an attorney who can assist and advise you through our Legal Advantage Plus plan! Please visit https://www.legalzoom.com/attorneys-lawyers/legal-plans/personal.html for more details.
Submitted by on Jun 18, 2010 - 7:01AM
After a 10 impeccable teaching reputation with the DOE.
A first year principal begins sexually harassed me at the onset of the year. He called me during late hours, text me in appropriate message, and made degrading comments to me at school.
I told my UFT chapter leader for months, a day after I finally confronted the principal about how he was making me feel, he files false allegations against me, and in the reassignment center I sit.
The DOE has done NOTHING to make a minor attempt to investigate. 4 months after my complaint he called another teacher into his office asking to be able to "hug" her every now and then to ease tension "he" felt were between the two of them.
The Commission on Human Rights has filed a claim against him on my behalf. I plan to file a federal complaint. My principal is a sick deviant.
I am scared and I have no protection once the school year is over. He live close to where I live. He can just show up at my house, at the grocery store, and I am a sitting duck in my own community.
Submitted by on Mar 27, 2011 - 4:37PM
can someone please help me...i worked at me job for almost 4ys was a store manager and my DM/boss started making unwanted commints to me, i did not say anything till i quit, because i felt that the company would do nothing and i would still haft to face him, beceause back last yr a store manager did file a claim on this DM for the same thing, and the company did nothing about it, HR or LP ever asked any of the female managers if this DM ever went out on line with any of us, so i felt like they would do nothing, after i quit i did meet with LP and report this, and i told them how i felt about them not doing nothing the first time this happin, and they did talk to one of my empoyee's that did state i did come to him about this, but they said need more proof, at first just wanted him fired, but after waiting and wating i did email LP and told him that if the company pays me what was owed bonus and all around $7600 then i would let this go, the legal dep for the company called me and said all they can give me is $5000 to drop this and never say a word about this or the company, dont know if i am doing the right thing, cause i quit my job because of this and now cant find a job, and he gets to keep his job and keep getting away with this, please help me ceause i half to meet with them on monday 3-28-11 to sign papers....
Submitted by on Apr 22, 2011 - 5:03PM
Hi Robin, we are very sorry to hear of the situation you are experiencing. Here at LegalZoom we specialize in affordable legal documents, but we are unable to provide legal advice. However, we can potentially connect you with an attorney that can give you legal guidance regarding this matter. If you want help finding an attorney, try our attorney services department: http://attorneyconnect.legalzoom.com
Submitted by on Jun 10, 2011 - 2:09PM
Hey, thank you guys for posting this. It gave me a few dates for this CBA I am doing for the 8th grade. My topic was **xual Harassment(: THANKS!! (it wouldn't let me type it out)
Submitted by on Sep 25, 2011 - 2:57PM
I am a former employee of a well known italian restaurant. I was sexually harassed by an employee who worked in the kitchen. Im trying to get a lawsuit started, but I have never been in this situation before and I dont know what I need to do to get this started. If someone could please give me some advice as to what steps I need to take I would really appreciate it...Thanks
Submitted by on Nov 15, 2011 - 4:42PM
Was it the Olive Garden? I had the same thing happen to me. I filed a complaint with the E.E.O.C. They have helped me with every step needed to pursue this matter. You need to contact them. There is absolutely no cost to you and they will represent you. The Olive Garden has more than their share of sexual harassment complaints and they don't seem to care. Google (EEOC Olive Garden sexual harassment) and you will be amazed. Hope this helps.
Submitted by on Oct 17, 2011 - 10:55AM
I have read that in 1901 there was only one sexual harassment case reported. I am trying to find out who reported it and the results of that case.
Submitted by on Oct 31, 2011 - 9:20AM
hello...i recently quit my job (i didnt give notice, i never returned to work after my vacation. i have been harrassed for the past 5 years and while people may call me stupid for not doing anything sooner, i have to explain. i moved to florida in 2005 and have no family down here. it began with just comments, but over the past year, my boss began to touch me. first on the rear and then the legs and then my breasts. i told him no and to stop constantly.i never once led him on. the only proof i have is a journal that i handwrote whenever he touched me or said something extremely inappropriate. is it worth filing a report or lawsuit?
thank you
Submitted by on Nov 11, 2011 - 4:05AM
Sexual Harassment is serious! My life was devastated by sexual harassment. I was very depressed, and I had to take anti-depressants. My lawsuit was too intense, so I found closure in this process. (1) Made a youtube video and tell your story of what happened in your sexual harassment case. (2) Expose the perpetrator in detail. (3) Express your anger at the end of your video. The act of fighting back was therapeutic, and my healing process began. I am now helping others to deal with the effects of Sexual Harassment.
Submitted by on Mar 6, 2012 - 12:39PM
Please help me! I was sexual harrassed by my school principal, discriminated against and retaliated against because I was telling some of co-workers what he did to me. I was terminated. He pressed against me twice and threatened me,"Don't you ever try to hurt me." I was terminated in order to sweep it under the rug! This principal had done this beforeand the system still kept him! My supervisor knew that this was happening but she didn't do anything about it. When I when to his supervisor complaining, she told me that I couldn't talk about it.
Submitted by on Apr 18, 2012 - 8:16AM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom, A. While we make creating legal documents easy and affordable, we can't give specific legal advice regarding this situation. However, we may be able to help you find an attorney who can assist you through our Legal Advantage Plus plan! Please visit https://www.legalzoom.com/attorneys-lawyers/legal-plans/personal.html for more details.
Submitted by on May 16, 2012 - 12:45AM
I just filed a law suit for sexual harassment. I'm in the same boat you were...devasted, depress and taking antidepressants. I know my case will be diffucult since it deals with my employer. Do you have any information you can share with me that could help me with my case? Can I ask you if your case worked out for the better? Thanks for your time.
Submitted by on May 25, 2012 - 8:28AM
Hi Veronica - While we cannot give specific legal advice on this matter, we may be able to help you find an attorney who can assist you through our Legal Advantage Plus plan! Please visit https://www.legalzoom.com/attorneys-lawyers/legal-plans/personal.html for more details.
Submitted by on Nov 17, 2011 - 12:38AM
In Min Kou Chennete v. Kenneth Cole Productions, 05 Civ. 4849 (DLC), the Court ruled that such a pervasive and exploitative environment fostered by the overt sexual harassment of young female employees and staff by Management males at Kenneth Cole Productions at 603 West 50th Street, New York, New York warranted further investigation and inquiry.
Submitted by on Dec 30, 2011 - 11:24AM
hr made me watch a videos of anti harassment went i came to them about some one touch my back side and comments to me for year is that right
Submitted by on Jan 21, 2012 - 5:38AM
Apparently the EEOC is actively investigating Kenneth Cole Productions for rampant sexual harassment and sexual enslavement of its female and male personal assistants. If you have any relevant information call James Douglas at the New York EEOC District Office at 1-800-669-4000.
Submitted by on Mar 13, 2012 - 7:33AM
I really need help I have no Idea what to do. I was employed at a small company and was sexually harassed by one of the customers. First he started with comments about how hot I was and ooo can you do that again whenever I bent over or anything. The next thing he started doing was saying that he would come to my house and do my household chores and finally one day when I was clocking out he started rubbing the back of my neck. Whenever he quit he turned and looked at me and said did it work? Not understanding I said um did what work! He stated that that was supposed to be a very arousing spot, I looked at him and said NO! He then stated well maybe we can try again some other time and see if it works and shot me a strange and very sexual look. Not knowing what to do I turned around a left the building, calling my company director on the way home. An employee and 2 customers were standing there when he did it and she told me that I needed to talk to my boss. Thenext day he started looking for me and my director had to hide me in her office under furniture because I was frightened of him. I talked to my owner late that afternoon and she told me that I needed to take care of it. She stated that I wasn't the only employee that went through this and that another girl used to keep an employee with her at all times because she was afraid of him as well, but I was the only one who had ever been touched by him. She continued to say that I needed to handle this not her! We have no sexual harrassment policy there and no policy saying how we as employees should handle the situation. The next day a customer went to my employee asking what was being done about the employee who was sexually harrassed. I know this because later on that afternoon I was called into her office where She yelled at me because I told a customer. I finally got a word in and told her that they witnessed it. She told me that she told me to handle him and to stop hiding and avoiding him that I needed to stand my ground and that they are great customers and cant afford to lose their business because they refer people and put a lot into her company and she doesn't want to say anything to them and make them feel uncomfortable so that they would leave! It was so bad that I left her office in tears and just felt awful that she talked to me like that! After I walked out my director finally talked her into calling him because she knows I'm not the type to stand up for myself. My owner came back in and called me outside and told me that she called him and told him in quote, " I have a 19 year old here that doesn't understand your practical joking and fells unconfortable when you joke with her so can you please stop" the next day he came in and rubbed my shoulder and told me that he was sorry he made me feel uncomfortable in the most sarcastic way possible. Not only had the situation not been handled right but she told me that he was a dirty b***ard and a pervert but she didnt want to p***iss him off and instead of saying employee she claimed me as a 19 year old. I felt awful and I wanted to do something about it but I was scared i would get fired and other employees told me that they agreed with me 100% that the situation was not handled right but to keep my mouth shut because they didn't want to but their job in jeopardy, 2 months later I was fired for violating company policy, whenever I started there I never recirved a policy handbook, but I signed a paper saying I had read the policy because they needed it in my file before state came. I have been screwed and I have no idea what to do about this please help me!
Submitted by on May 9, 2012 - 10:28AM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom, and we are sincerely sorry to hear what you are experiencing. While we make creating legal documents easy and affordable, we unfortunately cannot give specific legal advice on this matter. However, we may be able to help you find an attorney who can assist you through our Legal Advantage Plus plan. Please visit https://www.legalzoom.com/attorneys-lawyers/legal-plans/personal.html for more details.
Submitted by on Dec 17, 2012 - 2:39PM
I was just recently let go from my job . The owner said it was because I had been late but proceeded to to spend the next 15 mins. Explaining how he had tried to have a relationship with me and I just kept growing further away from him I had worked for almost 2 yrs . From day one he always tried hugging and kissing on me always wanting to know if he could kidnap me n take me away to his bed etc. I have always told other co workers when the incidents had happened . This went on the whole 2 yrs of workin for him I even had one of the girls come down just cuz I didn't want to be alone with him he started locking up the bar she came in and he looked at me and asked me did I say anything cuz he said she was acting funny . He even went as far as too tell me one time how funny it was that he'd pry havta to deal with it if I ever filled a sexual harassment case cause it would be well worth it . I got a text message after leaving the day I got let go that the patron sitting at the bar was told as I was walking out that me and him (owner) could've been a item . Do I have a case
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