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      <title>Illinois Sexual Harassment Attorney Blog</title>
      <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/</link>
      <description>Published by Peter M. LaSorsa   </description>
      <language>en</language>
      <copyright>Copyright 2010</copyright>
      <lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:27:13 -0600</lastBuildDate>
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         <title>Landwin Management Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $500,000</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") settled two lawsuits against <a href="http://www.landwin.com/"target="_blank">Landwin Management, Inc</a>. for $500,000.  The lawsuits involved <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1437201.html"target="_blank">national origin </a>discrimination and sexual harassment. According to facts in the lawsuit non-Chinese banquet servers were not hired based on their national origin.   Apparently all the non-Chinese banquet servers who previously worked for the hotel were not hired back during the turnover and instead replaced with less qualified Chinese workers.  The EEOC alleges that the majority of the replaced workers were Latino.</p>

<p>Additionallty, Landwin Management which managed the San Gabriel Hilton subjected female employees to sexual harassment.  Allegations of sexual harassment included the housekeeping department supervisor calling the women prostitutes and whores.  The women complained to management and nothing was done to stop the <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment</a>.  You can see how much money this ended up costing the company--not much of a cost savings.  The company also has to deal with the negative publicity.  </p>

<blockquote>“The days when employers make decisions based on stereotypes and assumptions shaped by the race or national origin of their employees should be far behind us,” said Anna Y. Park, the regional attorney for the EEOC. </blockquote>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/landwin_management_settles_sex.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/landwin_management_settles_sex.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:27:13 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Woman Has Threesome With Boss and Sues For Sexual Harassment</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Cathy Monaghan is suing the <a href="http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/water/"target="_blank">El Dorado County Water Agency </a>alleging her boss sexually harassed her, and that the affair eventually spiraled into threesomes with her husband.  This is a very unique <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>and <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> lawsuit.  According to the lawsuit, William T. Hetland, her boss demanded sexual favors from Monaghan and if she refused she would be fired. Monaghan claims that Hetland that she gave in to the request for sex in part because he would get her drunk.   At some point she began feeling guilty about the affair and told her husband, at which point the three of them participated in 'threesomes.  </p>

<p>According to the lawsuit, after engaging in four separate threesomes, Monaghan and her husband agreed that she should end the affair but  Hetland pressured her to keep having sex.  At one point Monaghan told management about the demands for sex and she claims the company engaged in <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> by firing her rather than address the problem.  The stress of all of this made Monaghan continue to drink more and more and eventually led to problems with the law.  She was arrested for a DUI and eventually fired from her job.  The details of this case are pretty shocking and unique.  </p>

<blockquote>"Plaintiff was terminated in retaliation for opposing Hetland's sexual harassment and refusing to participate in sexual encounters. Plaintiff's termination constitutes an adverse employment action," the lawsuit states.</blockquote>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/woman_has_threesome_with_boss.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/woman_has_threesome_with_boss.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:01:57 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Firefigher Settles Employment Discrimination Lawsuit For $150,000</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Steven Napolitano agreed to settle his <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093268.html"target="_blank">employment discrimination </a>lawsuit with the <a href="http://www.eppleyairfield.com/"target="_blank">Omaha Airport Authority</a> for $150,000 and as part of the agreement they must reinstate him.  In the lawsuit Napolitano alleged he was fired after refusing to support the airport fire chief's claims against Napolitano's captain. The main issue was that the captain was accused of falsifying training records for Napolitano and other firefighters.</p>

<p>It is very tough to assert your rights in the workplace.  Napolitano in this case was not afraid to stand up to management and as a result he has a nice payday plus he has his job as a firefighter back.  Employment discrimination is a very broad term and covers many different types of discrimination.  There are many remedies available for employees who believe they have been discriminated against.  There are also very strict time limits, also called statutes of limitation that must be followed.  It is very important to act quickly to protect your rights and available remedies.</p>

<blockquote>Napolitano also told the chief that “the firefighters would not be intimidated into making false statements.”</blockquote>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/firefigher_settles_employment.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/firefigher_settles_employment.html</guid>
         <category>Employment Discrimination</category>
         <pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:40:27 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Branch Banking &amp; Trust Pays $24,000 To Settle ADA Lawsuit</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Branch Banking and Trust will pay $24,000 to settle a Americans with Disabilities Act ("<a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1382750.html"target="_blank">ADA</a>")<br />
lawsuit with Linda Hewett and filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") on her behalf.  The problem for Hewett started when her employer would not grant her request for a reasonable accommodation.  Hewtt is a hearing-impaired employee who was denied a reasonable accommodation to work in a different position because she had a progressively severe hearing loss and could no longer work as a senior bank teller.</p>

<p>According to details in the lawsuit Hewett was denied reassignment to other vacant positions at Branch Banking and Trust where her hearing impairment would not affect her job performance.  This was a reasonable accommodation and the company would have been better advised to have transfered her.  In the current tight job market more companies believe they can treat workers as they wish and don't have to suffer any recourse.  In this case Hewett asserted her rights and was victorious--good for her.</p>

<blockquote>“Workers  with disabilities are productive members of the American workforce,” said  Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Charlotte District Office. </blockquote>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/branch_banking_trust_pays_2400.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/branch_banking_trust_pays_2400.html</guid>
         <category>EEOC</category>
         <pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:28:03 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Akeena Solar Pays $30,000 To Settled ADA Claim With EEOC</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.akeena.com/"target="_blank">Akeena Solar </a>agreed to pay $30,000 to Gladys Tellez a payroll technician to settle an Americans With Disabilities Act ("<a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1382750.html"target="_blank">ADA</a>") lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") on her behalf.  According to the lawsuit Tellez was fired by Akeena Solar within hours of her first day at work.  Apparently her supervisor discovered that her left arm was paralyzed and didn't want her working for him. It is remarkable in this day people still have that type of attitude toward people with handicaps.</p>

<p>According to documents in the lawsuit and investigation by the EEOC determined that Tellez was fully qualified and capable of performing the essential functions of the job.  This is a clear case of someone who can perform a job and is not given the chance because of someone else's poor decision.  Tellez gets the final word and this case should send a signal to other employers not to <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093268.html"target="_blank">discriminate</a> against people with disabilities.</p>

<blockquote>“All too frequently, the mainstream  public, including employers, perceive people with disabilities through a filter  of upon myths and stereotypes, instead of assessing each person on their own  terms,” said EEOC Regional Attorney William Tamayo.</blockquote> ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/akeena_solar_pays_30000_to_set.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/akeena_solar_pays_30000_to_set.html</guid>
         <category>EEOC</category>
         <pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:18:42 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Steakhouse Worker Has Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Reinstated</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ("<a href="http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/"target="_blank">Seventh Circuit</a>") has breathed some life into Paul Turner.  Turner worked as a waiter for The Saloon, Ltd. ("<a href="http://www.saloonsteakhouse.com/"target="_blank">The Saloon</a>"), a Chicago steak-house.  While working as a waiter her claims to have been the victim of several forms of employment discrimination including <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment</a>, <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a>, and violation of the Americans with Disabilites Act ("<a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1382750.html"target="_blank">ADA</a>").   According to the lawsuit Turner had a sexual relationship with his supervisor and claims that he ended it and she began to sexually harass him.  Turner complained to restaurant management about the sexual harassment and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>"). </p>

<p>After getting a right to sue letter from the EEOC Turner filed a multi-count employment discrimination lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois and a Judge in that court dismissed the complaint during a summary judgment hearing.  Turner appealed and the Seventh Circuit upheld the district court Judge except on the sexual harassment count.  In short, the sexual harassment case will continue.</p>

<p>The details of the sexual harassment claims include, once a customer spilled champagne on Turner's pants, and when he went to the bar area to find towels to dry himself off, Lake, his supervisor and former lover followed him there. She put her hands inside his pockets, grabbed his penis, and said, "You sure are soaked." In another instance Lake pressed her chest against him and asked, "Don't you miss me?" Lake approached Turner from behind and grabbed his buttocks. Lastly Lake saw Turner with his clothes off while he was changing into his work uniform and told him that she missed seeing him naked.</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/steakhouse_worker_has_sexual_h.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/steakhouse_worker_has_sexual_h.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:03:15 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Walmart Pays $11.7 Million To Settle Gender Discrimination Lawsuit</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Walmart agreed to settle a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093479.html"target="_blank">gender discrimination </a>lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>"), on behalf of a class of female workers and potential female workers for $11.7 million.  According to the allegations in the lawsuit Walmart’s Distribution Center denied jobs to female applicants for a period of seven years by hiring male applicants for warehouse positions while not hiring females who were either as qualified or more qualified. Hard to believe that this type of coordinated behavior still takes place.  </p>

<p>In addition to paying the money, as part of the settlement <a href="http://www.walmart.com/"target="_blank">Walmart </a>must offer the next 50 positions to females and after that every third position will be offered to females.  This case lasted a very long time and the amount although large in the grand scheme of things is very small for a large company like Walmart.  People should realize that big companies will fight and use delay tactics when faced with <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093268.html"target="_blank">discrimination lawsuits</a>.  Corporate greed seems to be getting worse in this country and organizations like the EEOC keep fighting the good fight for the average person.</p>

<blockquote>“Let this major settlement serve as a warning: Employers must stop engaging in these  outdated and sexist practices, or they will face severe legal consequences.” said Acting EEOC Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru</blockquote>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/walmart_pays_117_million_to_se.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/walmart_pays_117_million_to_se.html</guid>
         <category>Gender Discrimination</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:19:40 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>BBQ Owner Agrees To Pay $449,000 To Settle Sexual Harassment Lawsuit</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>CEO Gregory Moore of <a href="http://scnbnc.com/"target="_blank">Smithfield's Chicken 'n Bar-B-Q </a>chain agreed to pay  $449,200 plus $375,780 in attorney fees to settle a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>lawsuit.  This may seem like large amount of money but Moore was ordered to pay $1.15 million to Jason Hallaman after a two-week jury trial.  As is common in trials, many times the parties will agree to settle for a lessor amount in return for not appealing the decision.  If the decision is appealed, it could take years for the person to get their money and there is always a chance the jury decision will be overturned or the award amount lowered.  </p>

<p>According to court testimony in the case the trouble for Moore began when he fired his personal assistant Hallaman.  Hallaman claims he was fired for rebuffing sexual advances. This would constitute <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a>.  Several former Smithfield's employees testified that they also rejected Moore's sexual advances and were fired.  Moore acknowledged at trail that he is bisexual.  Moore also insisted that he fired Hallaman for poor job performance and because Hallaman forged a check.  The jury didn't buy these claims.  </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/bbq_owner_agrees_to_pay_449000.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/03/bbq_owner_agrees_to_pay_449000.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:22:00 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>EEOC Must Pay $4.5 Million In Sexual Harassment Case Gone Wrong</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>In Illinois if a person believes they have been subjected to <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>then can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") or the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("<a href="http://www.state.il.us/dhr/"target="_blank">IDHR</a>").  The following case illustrates one reason why I prefer to file a case with the IDHR as opposed to the EEOC.  A federal judge ordered the  EEOC to pay $4.56 million in attorneys' fees and expenses to a CRST after dismissing the EEOCs sexual harassment lawsuit. The EEOC filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against CRST on behalf of 270 female drivers.  The drivers claim that CRST created a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1402443.html"target="_blank">hostile work environment</a>.</p>

<p>The problem for the EEOC was that a Judge ruled against the EEOC and in favor of CRST in a motion for summary judgment thereby dismissing the sexual harassment lawsuit.  In federal court, a Judge can award attorney fees to a defendant who wins their motion for summary judgement thereby increasing the risk of litigation for a plaintiff.  Another words, if you file a sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court and it is dismissed prior to a jury trial, a Judge could make you pay the attorney fees of the defendant, which in this case were a little more than $4.5 million.</p>

<p>Victims of sexual harassment should consider this ruling before deciding to undertake a lawsuit in federal court because of the potential for paying the attorney fees of the defendant.  In Chicago average attorney fees for employment lawyers defending companies can range from $250-$850 per hour.  </p>

<blockquote>"The EEOC believes the court's decisions in the case were wrongfully decided and the agency will be appealing," said EEOC Deputy General Counsel James Lee. </blockquote>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/eeoc_must_pay_45_million_in_se.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/eeoc_must_pay_45_million_in_se.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:40:46 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Janitor Sues School For Sexual Harassment</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Penny Jackson the former Bauxite school janitor filed a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>and <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> lawsuit against her former employer.  In the lawsuit Jackson claims that for a period of seven months she was subjected to repeated sexual harassment from the maintenance supervisor Sammy Roberson.  According to court documents Jackson was subjected to propositions for sex and sexually explicit comments.  Jackson alleges she complained about the sexual harassment and was then the subject of retaliation.  Prior to filing her lawsuit Jackson filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") who investigated and issued a right to sue letter.</p>

<p>The school has a different story regarding Jacksons claims.  The school claims Jackson was a poor worker and that many other employees refused to work with her.  They claim they did not renew her contract because of her work performance not because they were retaliating against her.  Both sides claim they have witnesses that will prove their respective cases.  It should be an interesting trial if it ever gets to that point.  Many cases settle and I am sure this one will settle at some point.  The school should think about how much money they will spend in legal fees.  On a positive note for the school district, the EEOC did not file the charge themselves and only issued a right to sue letter which it must do in all cases if it does not complete a full investigation or file the federal lawsuit itself.           </p>

<p>    <blockquote>“As a direct result of Jackson’s complaining to her superiors and officers of the defendent, she was disciplined and her employment contract was not renewed,” </blockquote>    </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/janitor_sues_school_for_sexual.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/janitor_sues_school_for_sexual.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:16:24 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>College of the Mainland Sued For Sexual Harassment</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Sandra Brewer filed a<a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank"> sexual harassment </a>and <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> lawsuit against her former employer the <a href="http://www.com.edu/"target="_blank">College of the Mainland</a>.  According to the lawsuit Brewer was terminated from the college because she complained about sexual harassment which would constitute her retaliation claim.  The issues for Brewer started back in 2006 when she alleges that for a period of two years Al Bass her boss and a college associate vice presidnet began to sexually harass her.</p>

<p>According to allegations in the lawsuit on a daily bases Bass would persistently make sexual advances and remarks toward Brewer.  Although Brewer claims most the the time Bass would make sure the two of them were alone before he began his sexual advances, Brewer also claims a few times there were witnesses present.  Brewer claims she told Bass many times to stop his bevahior but he refused.</p>

<blockquote>"The reason for the termination was pretextual and simply a ruse designed to hide the illegal conduct," according to the lawsuit.</blockquote>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/college_of_the_mainland_sued_f.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/college_of_the_mainland_sued_f.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:12:54 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>United Companies Pays $498,000 To Settle Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.united-gj.com/redimix.html"target="_blank">United Companies </a>will pay $498,000 to settle a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093479.html"target="_blank">gender discrimination </a>and <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> lawsuit which was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") on behalf of a female worker who court documents did not name.  According to details in the lawsuit the woman has been working for the company since 1998 and held a variety of jobs before the company assigned her to work as a quality control technician. According to documents in the lawsuit once in that position the gender discrimination against her became overt and interfered with her ability to work.  </p>

<p>In a big help for the female worker several male co-workers saw and overheard the gender discrimination and degrading treatment and backed her up when she complained to management. The female did complain about the gender discrimination to management and the men did back her up.  Even the men thought they would be the subject of retaliation for supporting the female worker in her harassment claim.  The company ended up terminated the female and two of her male supported but not before the department manager called the men troublemakers and told them they better shut up.<br />
 <br />
<blockquote>“Employers have a responsibility to maintain an environment free of sex discrimination and retaliation,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo O’Neill. “Here, the managers themselves committed both those offenses. </blockquote><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/united_companies_pays_498000_t.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/united_companies_pays_498000_t.html</guid>
         <category>Gender Discrimination</category>
         <pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:04:47 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Chief Financial Officer Gail Busbey Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit For $93,000</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Decatur Chief Financial Officer Gail Busbey filed a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>against the city alleging Mayor Don Stanford made inappropriate comments and unwanted physical contact with her.  Busbey is also alleging <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> because she alleges Stanford attempted to terminate her employment after she filed a complaint about Stanford with the director of personnel Ken Smith.<br />
 <br />
Busbey settled the sexual harassment lawsuit for $93,000 and agreed to retire as part of the settlement.  However, a member of the city council made statements about Busbey and now she is suing seeking over one million in damages for false light and breach of the agreement.  In sexual harassment cases there is usually a confidentiality clause and also a clause about not speaking negatively about either party.  You can see the problems that occur when one party talks about the other party.</p>

<blockquote>“You hear rumors, but I feel like if it was something that was relevant that I needed to know about, someone would have presented it to me,” Hammon said. </blockquote>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/chief_financial_officer_gail_b.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/chief_financial_officer_gail_b.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:30:45 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Wine Makers Squeezing More Than Grapes As Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Is Filed</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>A young 17 year old female farm worker filed a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>and retaliation lawsuit against her employer <a href="http://www.catchwine.com/wineries/california/giumarra_vineyards_corp/"target="_blank">Giumarra Vineyards Corp</a>.  The lawsuit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("<a href="http://EEOC.gov"target="_blank">EEOC</a>") on behalf of the young victim claiming a non-management worker made daily unwanted sexual advances to the alleged victim. According to the lawsuit, another employer made management aware of what was going on and management failed to stop it.  The sexual harassment continued until the young woman and three others complainted directly to management but were terminated 24 hours later.</p>

<p>According to the lawsuit the company tolerated the alleged sexual harassment and thus created a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1402443.html"target="_blank">hostile work environment</a>.  The company also engaged in <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> by firing the workers once they complained of being sexually harassed.  Some older workers will try to take advantage of younger workers and even think they can get away with sexually harassing them.  In this case if the allegations are true the company did not do what it should have.</p>

<blockquote>"Giumarra Vineyards denies the allegations in the complaint filed by the EEOC and will vigorously defend itself against all of the allegations. When this matter is concluded we are confident that our position will be affirmed." said a Guimarra Vineyards release</blockquote>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/wine_makers_squeezing_more_tha.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/wine_makers_squeezing_more_tha.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:17:58 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>United States Post Offices Has Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Dismissed</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>The following federal case, 3:07-CV-410-H,  illustrates how difficult it can be to prevail in a case of <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1276138.html"target="_blank">sexual harassment </a>or <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1537618.html"target="_blank">constructive discharge</a>.  Shironda McCloud filed a claim against the United States Postal Service ("<a href="http://www.usps.com/"target="_blank">USPS</a>") alleging sexual harassment and constructive discharge.  Constructive discharge occurs when an employee quits their job but claims they had to quit because the working conditions were so unbearable that a reasonable person would not continue to work in those conditions.  Constructive discharge differs from retaliation in that, the employee quits in a constructive discharge case whereas an employee is fired in a <a href="http://www.lasorsalaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1093473.html"target="_blank">retaliation</a> case--or the employee may be the subject of some other negative job action.</p>

<p>The allegations in the complaint were that McCloud began working for the USPS and her immediate supervior, Mr. Purifoy did the following over the course of two days: stared at Plaintiff; made comments that Plaintiff was beautiful; danced around Plaintiff in an awkward manner; told Plaintiff, "I'll give you Friday off if you go out to the club with me;" gave Plaintiff Thursday and Friday off and grabbed Plaintiff's wrist when she reached for her time card.  The complaint was based on those six incidents over a two day period.</p>

<p>McCloud told management about what happened, they investigated and removed Purifoy from managing her.  Over the next two months McCloud claims to have seen Purifoy at work a few times but that he never spoke to her and that he had no work control over her--yet she quit her job claiming she could not even look at him without feeling wierd.  The court found that this did not rise to the level of constructive discharge.  </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/united_states_post_offices_has.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com/2010/02/united_states_post_offices_has.html</guid>
         <category>Sexual Harassment</category>
         <pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:38:50 -0600</pubDate>
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