Following the filing of a federal lawsuit, Richard D. Greenfield, a nationally known class action attorney, agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that he used his position of trust to coerce one of his clients into sexual relations while she was dependent on his representation in a complex legal matter.
Harassment
$2.4 Million Arbitration Award for Victim of Sexual Harassment by 24 Hour Fitness
Jean Hyams was on the team of attorneys that represented a corporate sales manager in her sexual harassment claims against her employer, 24 Hour Fitness. The company required their employees to sign away the right to a trial by jury as a condition of their employment, so the claims could only be brought through private arbitration. The result, a $2.4 million award, including $1.2 million in punitive damages was one of the largest awards on record for a single-plaintiff arbitration. After the arbitration, the employer tried to seal the record to keep the plaintiff from publicizing the outcome of her case. Jean Hyams and Leslie Levy fought a successful post-arbitration legal battle for the right to make the company’s misdeeds public so that other employers would learn the costly consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Confidential Settlement for Church Member of Sexual Harassment Case Against Pastor
A minister used his pastoral counseling sessions to convince an emotionally vulnerable member of his church that it was God’s will that she should have sex with him. In a case brought during her years in private practice, partner Jean Hyams brought suit against the minister and his church for breach of the relationship of trust between clergy and parishioner. After aggressive litigation, the matter resolved confidentially on the eve of trial.
Pioneering Lawsuit For Tenants Sexually Harassed By Landlord
While in private practice, partner Leslie Levy brought a groundbreaking case alleging sexual harassment in housing. She represented multiple tenants whose apartment manager was perpetrating severe sexual harassment against them. The settlement achieved was the largest settlement in the nation at the time for a housing sexual harassment case. The publicity generated by this case, including a television appearances on Oprah and prominent coverage in newspapers around the country led to increased training, education and attention to the problem of sexual harassment in housing.
Sexual Harassment Case Against UC Regents
In a landmark case against the UC Regents and former UC Berkeley School of Law Dean, Sujit Choudhry, LVBH Partners Leslie Levy and Sharon Vinick, along with Associate Jennifer Sta.Ana, represented Tyann Sorrell, who worked as the Executive Assistant to the former Dean. According to the Complaint filed by Ms. Sorrell in Alameda County Superior […]
US Army Pays Woman $820,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment Case
Wendy Musell, with co-counsel Mark Epstein, represented Luydmila Starkey, a former military police trainee, who alleged that she was terminated after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. According to the lawsuit, Ms. Starkey’s supervisor sent her sexually explicit text messages and nude photos of himself when she was employed at the Presidio of […]
Sexual Assault and Harassment Case for Two Janitorial Workers Ends in Settlement
Partner Sharon Vinick, working with attorneys from Centro Legal De La Raza, filed a complaint on behalf of two janitorial service workers. The two employees were repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted by their direct supervisor, who secured their silence by threatening to cut their hours and give them difficult assignments. The supervisor went so far […]
Settlement of Case Brought on Behalf of Multiple Women Alleging Sexual Harassment and Wage Theft
Partners Leslie Levy and Sharon Vinick filed a case alleging sexual harassment and wage theft complaint on behalf of four women who worked for a large health care corporation. The women alleged that they were sexually harassed by their supervisor, who made lewd comments to them, touched them without their consent, and repeatedly suggested that […]
Seven Figure Settlement Reached on Behalf of Employee Subject to Sexual Harassment and Assault
Partner Leslie Levy filed a complaint against a large construction company, alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault, on behalf of a female employee whose supervisor sexually harassed and forced to her engage in sexual contact if she wanted to keep her job. Moreover, in order to force the Plaintiff to continue to sexual contact, her […]
Hardware Store Settles Case of Employee Subjected to Racial Slurs at Work
Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP filed a complaint against a hardware store that continuously subjected its employee to racial slurs and engaged in pattern of discrimination against Hispanic customers. The employee regularly complained to management of the hostile environment but the management failed to take any action. The employee ultimately resigned because he feared for […]
Sexual Harassment Case Against Local Card Room Settled
Partners Darci Burrell and Jean Hyams, with attorney Rebecca Kagin, filed a complaint on behalf of a female dealer against a local card room for sexual harassment and retaliation. In the complaint, the client alleged that she was subjected to sexually suggestive comments and gestures on a regular basis, which created a hostile work environment. […]
Settlement for Plaintiff Who Suffered Retaliation After Reporting Sexual Harassment
Partners Leslie Levy and Sharon Vinick filed suit on behalf of a woman working to provide services for homeless adults. The employee, as well as some female clients, were sexually harassed by her co-worker. Despite the employee’s report of the illegal behavior no action was taken against the harasser. Instead, the employer transferred her to […]
