Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department are attempting to quell the fervor over a recent Inspector General audit indicating that the city had spent some $110 million in jury awards over the last six years, with nearly a third of those involving LAPD personnel.

Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers understand that those cases involved allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.

The revelation of the scope of employment-related litigation at the agency has resulted in an inquiry by the police commission to determine why these figures are so high and what can be done.

The agency is also accused of overseeing a legal affairs department that routinely destroys case files, keeps lawsuit records that are inaccurate and incomplete and has no system in place designed to learn from prior mistakes.

Several weeks after that initial report was issued, the police department has responded to say that the report was out-of-date and that it has already taken effective measures to reduce its liability costs where disgruntled workers are concerned.

Chief Charlie Beck says that the Inspector General was analyzing cases that were closed between 2005 and 2012. However, he said all those allegations were first lodged prior to the fall of 2009, with some of them dating as far back as 1999.

Therefore, Beck said in a response letter to the commission, these were things that didn't happen on his watch. It was the previous administration, he said, that should be held responsible for the issues at hand.

Still, he said department leaders agree with some points of the audit, while countering a number of others.

In addition to the timeline dispute, the police chief also says that the agency doesn't store litigation records on past employment lawsuits because those files are maintained by the city attorney's office. He said there was no need for the police department to continue storing duplicate records, so they were destroyed. However, he contends they are still accessible at the city attorney's office.

Still, some of the police commissioners expressed concerns that files weren't maintained within the department, meaning they weren't accessible to internal personal as a reference. Other commissioners said it wasn't so much an issue of having duplicate copies as having a system in place that could help avoid risk of litigation in the future.

The police department's administrator, in responding to the police commission's inquiry, said that there had already been a steep decline in the amount of employee-related litigation. Eight cases have been filed so far this year, as compared to 31 lawsuits that were filed during fiscal year 2011-2012.

But the police commissioners want to see more action. They have directed the department to set up a meeting with the police unions to establish a mediation program. This would be a forum for disgruntled employees to have their cases heard prior to having them go to trial.

From a plaintiff attorney perspective, it may slow the litigation process to some extent. Alternatively, settlement agreements might be reached sooner.

Continue reading "LAPD Attempts to Defend Employment Litigation Record" »

Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers have seen many examples of Los Angeles-area governmental agencies that have struggled with employees and supervisors who just don't understand how to comply with sexual harassment laws.

On the one hand, some people simply don't get that making lewd comments, sending inappropriate emails or making sexually aggressive moves toward co-workers is not only wrong, but also unlawful. On the other, government entities, private businesses and all types of employers must have strong sexual harassment policies in place in order to stop such behavior from happening in the first place.

Sexual harassment in Los Angeles is an important issue and one that can divide an office, cause tension between the aggressor and the victim and make a person unwilling to work at a place that they previously loved. And unless a victim is willing to step up and fight back, this type of harassment can continue.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Fire Department recently settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a firefighter who claims that he was repeatedly harassed by other firefighters. The department recently paid him $500,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed against the agency.

According to the newspaper report, a firefighter and engineer with the department filed a discrimination charge in 2007, claiming that he faces continual harassment from co-workers. The man claims that the harassment started a year earlier when he sued the Los Angeles Archdiocese over alleged sexual abuse.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that when a coworker learned of the lawsuit, the man became mocked by co-workers. They would use explicit and offensive sexual and religious epithets.

Recently, the department announced it would pay the man $494,150 to settle the case. The department also will be required to enforce policies against discrimination, retaliation as well as harassment. An external EEOC complaint procedure will also be put into place for future claims. The department failed to return calls seeking comment.

While many people believe that sexual harassment claims are only filed by women, this story proves that is only a stereotype. Any person would be able to see how devastating this scenario would be to a worker, regardless of their gender.

Being sexually harassed at work goes beyond having someone send an inappropriate email or making a racy joke. Any talk of sex that makes the person feel uncomfortable or is used in a way that degrades or bothers them, can qualify as harassment. If nothing is done, it will simply continue.

An employee deserves to work with people who respect them and who are willing to follow the laws as well as company procedures when it comes to sexual harassment. They should be able to enjoy their work and what they do without feeling nervous and awkward every time they show up. Sexual harassment changes everything.

Continue reading "LAFD Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit With Firefighter" »

A recent story out of Connecticut is both frustrating and terrifying for our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers because it goes to show the ignorance of people in power.

In 2008, a Muslim college student, hoping to get education and certification to be a chiropractor, instead was sexually harassed by a male student. When she reported it to teachers, they urged her not to say anything. The harasser then reported the woman to the FBI, who began a terrorism investigation.

Sexual harassment in Los Angeles is a serious offense and it can be made even more devastating when officials who take these reports don't respond appropriately. Schools, businesses and governmental bodies must have sound sexual harassment policies as well as procedures in place to handle these types of situations.

A sexual harassment victim initially is frightened and feels violated and uneasy. When people who should be there to help make the situation worse, it only complicates the issue. When there are matters of religious discrimination and race discrimination as well, it can make for an explosive situation.

According to the news article, the African-American Muslim student enrolled in a university in Connecticut in 2008 just hoping to get an education. She said she was subjected to repeated sexual advances and "graphic offensive comments" by a male student.

Naturally, she went to several teachers to report the problem. Rather than help her, the teachers urged her not to say anything. She went to the university's president and dean, who allegedly told her "My hands are tied, what do you suggest I do?"

Upon hearing about the complaint, her harasser then went to the FBI, alleging that she was involved in terrorism. After learning about that, the university then expelled the woman. Two university security directors told her that someone had made allegations against her and that the person threatened to call the FBI and have her arrested.

Later, FBI agents found her and knocked on her apartment door, questioned her and left a business card, according to a lawsuit she has filed. The woman asked for special accommodations from the university, which said the sexual harassment claims had been dismissed and that she was being expelled.

The lawsuit alleges that university officials did nothing to investigate her claims of sexual harassment and then reacted poorly by expelling her based on false accusations. Because she regularly wears the hijab, she was an easy target based on her race and religion.

Imagine how victimized this young woman feels? Instead of trying to get a sound education, she probably believed she had no allies and that no one was willing to protect her rights.

Many sexual harassment victims in Los Angeles feel the same way. They are put in an uncomfortable position and the only way to ensure they are treated fairly is if proper policies and procedures are put in place and followed. A culture of sexual harassment can't exist in this day and age.

Continue reading "Muslim Student Reports Sexual Harassment, Is Expelled, Investigated" »

There are uncomfortable work situations every day that rise to the level of sexual harassment in Los Angeles.

Whether legal or not, many workers believe they can get away with sexual harassment and suffer no consequences. Workplaces where this is the norm must be transformed. People simply shouldn't have to be subjected to this type of behavior on a daily basis, or at all.

Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers have seen the emotional torment that people have endured because they don't want to go to work, feel ostracized or experience trepidation or stress because of their work environment. Our attorneys are prepared to fight to ensure that this doesn't continue.

Sexual harassment allegations doesn't mean a victim should "toughen up," "be apart of the team" or "let it go." This is a serious violation that cannot continue. A victim of sexual harassment may be asked to perform sexual acts in order to get a job or earn a promotion, they may be subjected to unwanted touching, comments or sexual banter.

Co-workers may make sexually based jokes that are inappropriate or make a person feel uncomfortable or send out emails that likewise reference sex and can victimize colleagues.

At any rate, as Business Insurance rightly points out, sexual harassment is a big workplace problem and can be fueled by social media as well as environments where it is allowed to happen.

The trade publication points to more informal work environments, the use of social media by many people and human nature as reasons why sexual harassment is still a big problem in American businesses. Experts say employers should create strongly worded policies, increase training and create a sexual harassment policy to address the issue.

Herman Cain's recent decision to suspend his bid for President because of sexual harassment allegations has brought the issue to the forefront in recent months. In 2010, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported there were nearly 12,000 complaints of sexual harassment.

The article reports that the Society for Human Resource Management reported that 64 percent of organizations got at least one sexual harassment claim in the previous two years. It is an issue that continues coming up, even though it should be preventable with a little common sense, courtesy and decency.

While sexual harassment is still a problem, some 20 to 30 years after it was first recognized as an issue, it has changed, experts say. In years past, victims were asked for sexual favors and, typically, the victims were women. Now, more women are perpetrators compared to the past, and a hostile work environment is the bigger issue rather than asking for sex.

Analysts say that most people who create these environments do so because they don't believe the rules apply to them and they feel they can do what they want. With workplaces becoming less formal, the lines between home and work behavior have become blurred.

Continue reading "Sexual Harassment in Los Angeles Still a Serious Workplace Problem" »

Sexual harassment most commonly occurs as male-on-female interaction, but Fox Business reports that female-on-male harassment is on the rise. It is just as important for employers to understand their rights and obligations as it is for the employees to know the proper procedures when confronting sexual harassment in Pasadena or elsewhere.

It's estimated that six out of ten investigated sexual harassment incidents take place for no reasonable cause. According to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, nearly 13,000 sexual harassment cases were filed and resolved in 2010.

Pasadena sexual harassment attorneys recognize the severity and risks of reporting violations and emphasize the importance of speaking with someone to seek justice.

Employees may be reluctant to come forward after experiencing an act of sexual harassment in Pasadena in the work place, but awareness and knowledge is encouraged by both employees and employers.

Sexual harassment statistics gathered from 782 telephone surveys conducted by Sexual Harassment Support found:

-60 percent of targets take no action when victimized by sexual harassment.

-31 percent of women had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

-62 percent of the targets took no action.

-59 percent of men reported to have been harassed by a woman.

-41 percent of men reported to have been harassed by another man.

-100 percent of women reported their harasser was a man.

Fox Business offers these tips for employers dealing with sexual harassment complaints:

-Discuss with your employees the proper procedure to take when presented with sexual harassment. Get the procedure on paper. Distribute it to employees.

-Make sure to address every complaint. Ignoring complaints can not only cause legal and financial trouble, but can also cause office resentment, low productivity and low morale.

-Be sure to address all kinds of harassment: hostile work environment, quid pro quo harassment, sexual harassment.

"The issue of sexual harassment is emotionally loaded because it is so personal and intense, involving both sex and power," says B.J. Gallagher, Los Angeles management consultant specializing in workforce diversity.

Continue reading "New Wave of Workplace Behavior Causes Increased Risk of Pasadina Sexual Harassment" »