Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

Amanda Knox recently voiced claims that an Italian prison administrator engaged in sexual harassment acts during her time in prison overseas. Knox recently completed a four-year sentence for previous allegations of sexual harassment and murdering her roommate in 2007. She was released from the Italian prison and returned to her home in Seattle, according to CBS News.

Knox recently released a letter to the public in which she describes the sexual intimidation and manipulation that she fell victim to in the Italian prison. According to her reports, a male administrator in the prison would escort her up to an office, by herself at night, and would say a number of inappropriate things to her. These discussions were mainly of a sexual nature.

No person should be subjected to conversations that make him or her uncomfortable, especially when the conversation is about sex. Sexual harassment in Los Angeles and elsewhere can occur by unwanted conversations, acts, behaviors or rumors that affect another person. The man would attempt to discuss her sexual history and desires, and she was afraid not to cooperate as she believed she could face even more graphic harassment.

Our Orange County sexual harassment attorneys believe that no one should have to tolerate being the victim of sexual harassment, not even in prison. These acts make individuals very uncomfortable as the gestures, discussions and behaviors are unwanted. If you have been subjected to such behavior, you are urged to contact an attorney to help you fight for your rights.

"He was fixated on the topic of sex, with whom I'd done it, how I liked it, if I would like to do it with him," stated a letter from Knox.

The former University of Washington student went on to say that when the administrator would approach the topic of sex with her, she would try to change the subject, but he wouldn't follow. She felt he was trying to get a reaction out of her, to test her, to get some information out of her. She says that at the time she didn't realize the seriousness of the situation. The letter does not specify when it was written or which man she is accusing of sexual harassment.

Amanda Knox's story was recently discussed by Van Sant on the "The Early Show." A show special on her case was scheduled to broadcast, but reports of the sexual harassment leaked beforehand.

"Amanda eventually came to believe that the administrator's real motive was to intimidate her and provoke her to say something that would support the prosecution's theory that she really was a sex-crazed killer," wrote the CBS website.

A court in Perugia recently released Knox and her ex-boyfriend after being acquitted of the charges from the 2007 murder of a British student after an alleged violent sex game. Knox is hopeful she can turn her racy story into a top-selling book.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Watch: Amanda Knox Claim" »

As we approach the holiday season, many stores and retail outlets will be hiring temporary employees to meet with buyer demand. During this time, a sexual harassment primer is always a good idea.

Sexual harassment in Los Angeles and elsewhere can be classified as requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances and other physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. There are many forms of sexual harassment and anyone can be a victim.

Our Orange County sexual harassment attorneys would like to discuss exactly what sexual harassment is to help you to determine if you're experiencing anything like this in your workplace. If you feel you've been the victim of sexual harassment, you're urged to report the behavior to a supervisor and to contact an experienced attorney to help you fight for your rights. Employees are protected from any unwanted acts, and employers are required to take the appropriate actions to help ensure that this behavior doesn't happen. Employers must also be prepared to take appropriate actions when sexual harassment is alleged.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines sexual harassment as the rejection or submission to this conduct that affects a person's employment status, interferes with work duties or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive work place.

Sexual harassment can include, but is not limited to:

-The victim can be either a man or a woman, and the victim does not have to be of the opposite sex of the offender.

-The harasser can be anyone on the job, including a co-worker, supervisor, an agent, a non-employee, or a worker in a completely different area of the company.

-The victim doesn't necessarily have to be the one who was harassed. It could be anyone who has been affected by inappropriate conduct.

-Sexual harassment can happen even when a worker is not discharged or suffers no economic injury.

-The conduct of the harasser must be unwelcome by the victim.

Sexual harassment acts can include:

-Attempted or actual sexual assault or rape.

-Undesired pressure for sexual favors.

-Unwanted leaning over, touching, pinching or cornering.

-Unwanted and inappropriate gestures or looks.

-Telephone calls, letters and other materials with a sexual undertone that are unwanted.

-Spreading lies and rumors about a person's sex life.

-Giving personal gifts.

-Touching oneself in a sexual manner in the presence of another person.

-Using unwanted nicknames such as honey, doll, baby or hunk.

-Whistling at someone (also known as cat calls).

-Telling sexual stories or jokes.

-Looking a person up and down (also known as elevator eyes).

-Inappropriately touching another person.

If you feel you have been the victim of any of the listed acts, you're urged to report the behavior. If you feel you're not being treated fairly on the job, please contact an attorney to help you to fight for your rights. All employers are required to provide a safe and comfortable workplace for employees.

Continue reading "Employers Urged to Address Sexual Harassment Risks in Los Angeles" »

The Los Angeles Times Magazine's former publisher has filed suit against the Tribune Company, asking for $13 million for what he claims was wrongful termination, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of business and professions code, The Wrap reports.

Wrongful termination in Los Angeles, especially cases in which men are involved and sexual harassment is alleged, has become more and more common.

Many years ago, sexual harassment claims in Los Angeles typically were filed by women who said they were being treated unfairly. But that has changed. Men are now not only subjected to sexual harassment, but have become confident to report it -- two critical changes in our country's workforce in recent years.

Like any sexual harassment claim, the victim mustn't attempt to go about this type of action alone. It is a complex area of law and requires the trained eye of a Newport Beach sexual harassment lawyer. Because the stakes are high -- a person's job is on the line and high dollar amounts hang in the balance -- an experienced lawyer must be called in to help.

According to the article, the man filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court saying he witnessed sexual harassment and was rebuffed when he tried to contact Human Resources to report it.

He also alleges that customers in low-income and "demographically minority neighborhoods" called to complaint that they weren't receiving the magazine even though they were paying the full subscription price like everyone else.

When he went to his boss, he was told there was a "story" to explain the situation.

After bringing forth both complaints, he claims his character was attacked by higher-ups in order to make him look bad in front of co-workers and loosen his grip of power on the operation. Later, he was fired for "poor revenue," "damaged relationships" and an "inability to manage his direct reports."

He denies those claims, saying he got bonuses for meeting high revenue marks during his tenure with the magazine. He believes he was fired because he brought up sexual harassment in the workplace and because he was concerned about the unethical distribution of the magazine.

He is seeking $13 million in damages, mostly due to loss of salary and emotional distress, but also due to damage of his reputation. He claims his bosses went to great lengths to defame him and make it difficult for him to get work in the future.

Lawsuits like these take a lot of courage and the right set of circumstances. They can serve to not only help a victim of wrongful termination and sexual harassment, but also change the culture of a company.

If bosses allow unlawful treatment of their employees, it often takes a big-dollar settlement or jury verdict to get them to change their tune and create change. Other employees may not want to come forward with complaints, but even one whistle-blower can make a big difference.

Continue reading "L.A. Times Magazine Former Publisher Sues For Sexual Harassment" »

Los Angeles Downtown News is reporting that several lawsuits alleging both racism and sexual harassment at the Los Angeles Police Department have caused a shakeup in personnel.

Allegations of sexual harassment are nothing new at the police department, unfortunately. Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers have chronicled on our blog the plight of department officials, who have done little to change the atmosphere for officers and staff.

And that's what these types of cases come down to -- atmosphere. If a work environment allows this type of behavior and employees aren't willing to step up and challenge it, the problem will persist. So, while it is incumbent upon employers to do the right thing, often employees are the ones who must create the change by standing up against the issue.

According to the lawsuit, staff members from the department's Central Division have been named in several lawsuits alleging both racial and sexual harassment. Officers allege that command staff tolerate the harassment and have been unwilling to stop it.

Four officers and two sergeants have been transferred and were downgraded in rank, the article states. The city is now fighting three lawsuits filed by officers in the division's Community Relations Department.

The lawsuits allege that the department allowed for supervisors to make racial and sexually motivated remarks and pranks that became embedded in the culture of the office. Some examples cited by the article:

• A sergeant presenting a black officer with a cake topped with a slice of watermelon and a piece of fried chicken


• The same sergeant sending racially sensitive text messages about an officer who is of Mexican descent


• The sergeant removing one officer from an overtime detail and putting his wife, another officer, in that spot

The officers all allege they brought their concerns and examples to a captain who was in charge of the sergeant, though he refused to mete out discipline. LAPD officials deny any wrongdoing and say the department's atmosphere is full of jokes and pranks that aren't intended to be malicious.

But the officers allege not only were they subjected to the harassment and racial comments, but they were transferred to less-than-desirable locations after complaining about their treatment. They believe they were retaliated against for speaking out about the behavior of their superiors.

This, too, isn't uncommon. When people bring up complaints about poor treatment and sexual harassment, their employers sometimes will attempt to retaliate against them by treating them poorly or even firing them. This is another reason why consulting with an attorney is critical in order to craft a well-written and researched lawsuit to protect your rights.

Continue reading "LAPD Sexual Harassment Causes Division Shakeup" »