No employer likes to receive a harassment complaint. Yet, how the employer handles the complaint can cause even more of a nightmare. In the latest issue of Staffing Industry Review magazine, LVBH partner Jean Hyams discusses best practices for conducting a fair and thorough investigation.
Sharon Vinick weighs in on harassment in the virtual office on WNYC’s “The Takeaway”
Tanzina Vega from the public radio show “The Takeaway” interviewed LVBH partner Sharon Vinick about how employers can be held liable for harassment that occurs while employees are working remotely. In the segment Sharon discusses the risks of the virtual office and how businesses can respond to them.
Rape Survivor’s Lawsuit Leads to New Rules for Preventing Sexual Assault for Major School District
As part of the settlement of a high-profile Title IX lawsuit brought by Virginia M., a former student, the Sacramento City Unified School District has agreed to sweeping programmatic changes in how it will respond to reports of sexual assault and harassment. Signed by the Superintendent of the District with the authorization of the District’s […]
Fintech Software Executive Files Lawsuit for Gender Discrimination, Denial of Equal Pay And Retaliation Lawsuit Against Equity Management Provider Carta
July 21, 2020 – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – Emily Kramer, former Carta executive and VP of Marketing, filed suit against the equity-management software maker today, alleging that Carta discriminated against her on the basis of gender, retaliated against her, wrongfully terminated her in violation of public policy, violated the California Equal Pay Act, and failed […]
US Postal Service Pays $600,000 to Two Female Letter Carriers Who Were Victims of Serial Sexual Harasser
Wendy Musell, working with Legal Aid at Work, filed a sexual harassment case against the United States Postal Service on behalf of two female letter carries who were sexually harassed by a supervisor who had been harassing female employees for over a decade. According to the lawsuit, the supervisor’s sexual behavior was an open secret […]
$1.2 Million Jury Verdict after BART Failed to Prevent Harassment and Retaliation
A BART employee who had complained about racial harassment by a co-worker and systemic race discrimination brought suit against his employer. Years after the case was originally filed, partners Darci Burrell and Jean Hyams were brought on to take the case to trial. With only a few months to prepare, Darci and Jean worked feverishly to muster the evidence and prepare the legal arguments that would help prove that BART should be held responsible for the retaliation and harassment suffered by its employee. The jury found in his favor on all counts, in a clear vindication of the mechanic’s rights.
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 […]
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 […]