Workplace Sexual Assault Attorney
Helping Victims of Assault in the Workplace in Los Angeles & Nationwide
Sexual assault is unlawful in any context. When it occurs at work, the employer has a responsibility to take appropriate action, including by punishing the wrongdoer and taking appropriate steps to protect against future assaults. If your employer was responsible for your assault, or if they failed to act appropriately after learning of your assault at work, they can and should be held liable for their actions.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual assault at work, the Southern California workplace sexual assault legal team at the Morris Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights. We do not stand by while perpetrators of assault are allowed to go without punishment, nor do we abide by supervisors and managers who turn a blind eye to the dangers their environment fostered. We’ll make sure you get the justice, the compensation, and the closure you deserve.
California Law Prohibits Sexual Harassment and Assault in the Workplace
Sexual harassment and sexual assault are prohibited under federal and California state law. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) dictates that unwanted sexual advances, harassment, abuse, and assault are unlawful in the workplace. If your employer is the perpetrator of the conduct (i.e., a supervisor or member of the management team), or if they are aware of the conduct and fail to take appropriate steps to protect you, punish the wrongdoer, and otherwise mitigate the situation, then they may be liable for the harm you have suffered.
Per FEHA, any of the following conduct is unlawful:
- Unwanted physical or verbal advances, including blocking, touching, sexual comments, sexual jokes, or sexual propositions
- Sexual assault, including any form of unwanted physical touching
- Verbal abuse or harassment, including obscene letters, vile comments, graphic commentary about an employee’s body, sexually degrading language
- Displaying sexual imagery, leering, or making derogatory comments
- Demanding sexual favors or romantic encounters in exchange for employment benefits or under threat of termination or other consequences
Filing a Claim Against Your Employer
If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace, your employer has an obligation to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation. If you were harassed or assaulted by a coworker, you can report the incident to your supervisor, human resources (HR) rep, or other appointed person. Your employer must then take appropriate steps to remedy the situation, including by way of punishment, transfers, and/or termination of the aggressor. If your employer fails to take appropriate action, you could have a claim against your employer.
If you were subjected to harassment or abuse by a supervisor, you might have a claim against your employer even if you never reported the incident. Sexual assault by a supervisor is such a severe and wrongful act as to give rise to a claim against your employer, regardless of whether the company was actually aware of the incident and failed to remedy the situation.
Talk to your workplace sexual assault attorney to discuss your options, your obligations, and your rights. You may need to take certain steps in order to preserve your rights. Your sexual assault lawyer can help you protect your rights and hold the perpetrator of the assault liable as well as the employer that fostered or permitted the hostile environment to exist.
Call a California Workplace Sexual Assault Lawyer at the Morris Law Firm Today
Sexual assault should never be allowed to go unpunished. If your employer failed to protect you against sexual assault, or if they failed to respond appropriately after learning of the assault, you can and should hold the institution responsible. They are just as culpable as the individual who perpetrated the wrongful acts. Contact our Los Angeles workplace sexual assault attorney today to discuss your assault claim. Morris Law Firm will give you a personalized evaluation and help you figure out your legal rights and next steps.
Call us today at 747-283-1144 for a fast response or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
