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.
What can you do to combat systemic racism at work in California?
Over the last few weeks, a lot of white people have been having some hard and long overdue conversations about systemic racism, police brutality, equal justice and the fact that Black lives matter. Talk needs to turn into action, not just in the streets but also in the workplace. Structural racism embedded in hiring decisions, […]
Women Being Interviewed in Sacramento Should Consult Attorneys
We strongly encourage any woman who is considering participation in an interview with the investigator hired by the California Assembly and Senate, or any other investigation conducted by the state legislature, to contact an attorney to discuss their rights. Attorneys in our office would be happy to assist you in evaluating your legal rights with respect […]
$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.
Jury Verdict And Fees Award In Excess of $1 Million For Woman Subject to Retaliation
Partners Jean Hyams and Darci Burrell tried a case on behalf of a woman who suffered retaliation after she complained repeatedly about sexual and racial harassment on the graveyard shift at Caltrans’ Oakland Transportation Management Center. Members of the jury wept when they rendered a unanimous verdict finding Caltrans liable for maintaining a sexually and racially hostile work environment and subjecting the plaintiff to retaliation. By obtaining a jury verdict and attorneys’ fee award in excess of $1 million, the trial team vindicated the rights of the Caltrans employee and delivered a clear message to employers about the cost of maintaining a work environment in which sexually and racially inappropriate conduct is permitted to thrive.
$3.6 Million Settlement for City Employee Subjected to Retaliation and Wrongful Termination
Partners Darci Burrell and Leslie Levy represented a 27-year employee of the City of Emeryville after she was terminated from her job following a psychiatrist’s report that she was “unfit for duty.” The employee, who was chief union steward at the time of her termination, had challenged racial discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment by City management throughout her career. Darci and Leslie charted new legal territory in this case by bringing a claim against the psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen Raffle, for “aiding and abetting” the City in retaliating against their client for her years of anti-discrimination advocacy on behalf of herself and others. On the eve of the jury trial, Emeryville agreed to pay an estimated $3.6 million in damages and attorney’s fees to settle the case. The settlement was a vindication for the employee and restored her good name.
Construction Superintentant Files Harassment Lawsuit After Noose Hung in Workplace
July 10, 2015 – An African-American assistant superintendent has filed a racial harassment lawsuit against his former employer, after the superintendent assaulted him with a noose and made threatening and racist comments. As documented in photos and videos taken at the time of harassment, while working in Lafayette, the employee (who is identified for his […]
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 […]
