Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

Siegfried & Roy, famous Las Vegas entertainers, have won more than $37,000 in a suit that was filed against Roy because of faulty allegations of sexual harassment from one of the performer's assistants, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

A Las Vegas District Court Judge ordered a former assistant of the star's to pay the sum as a sanction for asserting baseless sexual harassment claims against Roy and the company that owned the duo, according to media's wife. The former assistant's wife was also part of the order.

The suit first came into the public eye last year when the assistant reported the sexual harassment accusations. These allegations stated that the male assistant was subjected to sexual overtures by both of the stars. The man also claimed that he was let go from the company after he had rejected sexual advances from Roy. Sexual harassment claims in Newport Beach and elsewhere involve male victims more often than in the past.

Our Newport Beach sexual harassment attorneys understand that the number of male sexual harassment victims climbed significantly since the beginning of the recession. During this time, officials started receiving an increased number of these complaints. It is estimated that more than 16 percent of all of the sexual harassment claims -- or more than 2,000 claim filed in 2009 -- were filed by men, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We're seeing more and more male sexual harassment cases. These cases oftentimes include behavior involving unwanted sexual advances and groping. This "locker room" type behavior, including vulgarity and horseplay, is completely unacceptable regardless of age, race or sex.

The assistant to the performing duo was described as a heterosexual married man who had been hired to help out Roy with everyday needs like getting dressed and grooming. Reports indicated that Roy still needed assistance because of the injuries that were suffered in 2003 when he was attacked by a tiger at a show at the Mirage.

Roy defended the case by saying that the assistant took advantage of his trust, his medical condition and his age in an attempt to gain monetary rewards from Roy. The assistant reportedly used 'video surveillance' to bribe the star for a monetary payoff. When the video failed to produce the desired results, the assistant reported that improper sexual conduct was displayed at Roy's home. And that a hostile work environment restled when the assistant rejected the sexual offers. These false allegations led to the dismissal of the assistant, reports Roy.

It was also stated, by the defendants, that the accusing party made this case as publicly embarrassing and as costly as possible.

Initially, the assistant requested $500,000 from Roy personally, but when he refused to pay the assistant he was threatened with a criminal investigation.

"Many people mistakenly believe that harassment is limited to females," says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, a human resource expert. "The truth is that this type of experience is just as damaging to men."