Sexual Harassment

South Florida Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawsuits

Contact the Law Office of William M. Julien in Boca Raton if you have been victimized bysexual harassment in the workplace. We represent clients with sexual harassment claims all over Florida, especially in communities between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. We have settled many sexual harassment cases for six-figure amounts up to $600,000+, and in 2005, we won a jury verdict for $2 million on sex harassment claims. The employer was also forced to pay an additional $1,100,000.00 in attorney's fees.

Most cases of sexual harassment fall into one of two categories--sexually hostile workplace or quid pro quo. The latter cases, derived from the Latin phrase meaning "this for that", involve pressure from a coworker, manager, or supervisor to provide sexual favors in exchange for keeping a job, getting a promotion or raise, or avoiding disciplinary action or a demotion. If you are the victim of quid pro quo sexual harassment, Boca Raton workplace rights attorney William Julien can advise you on all aspects of your situation from documenting the facts of the case to proving the full extent of your damages. In some cases, the best solution to a case of quid pro quo sexual harassment will involve negotiation of a substantial settlement or severance package as an alternative to litigation.

More often, our clients describe sexual harassment situations that fall under the sexually hostile workplace category. These cases involve working conditions that make it difficult for an employee to discharge her duties because of any of the following:

• Suggestive and unpleasant remarks about one's appearance, clothing, or body
• Inappropriate touching
• The open display of grossly sexist or pornographic photographs or drawings
• The circulation of sexually explicit or obscene pictures, jokes, or other material through e-mail
• Rumors or accusations concerning one's sex life or sexual orientation
• Company functions or client entertainment at strip clubs over an employee's objections

An employer's liability to an employee for a sexually hostile work environment will very often involve not only a failure to prevent or correct any of the conditions that an employee might find threatening or offensive, but also threats of retaliation against the employee reporting sexual harassment or against workers who support a complaint filed by another. Employers with detailed written policies against sexual harassment can also get into trouble by failing to follow their own complaint investigation policies, or by making exceptions in favor of high performing perpetrators or managers.

At the Law Office of William M. Julien, we investigate and pursue claims of sexual harassment promptly and aggressively. Our focus on employee rights litigation enables us to develop the facts essential to proof of liability against the employer while protecting our client's workplace interests. Additionally, our understanding of the damages payable in successful sexual harassment litigation allows us to keep fighting for your rights until a satisfactory settlement offer is forthcoming. We can protect you from the temptation to accept an attractive but inadequate compromise offer.

Although most of our sexual harassment clients are women, men can also be victimized by workplace sexual harassment. We also accept cases of same-sex harassment involving gays or lesbians, or harassment on the basis of a worker's real or perceived sexual orientation.

For a free consultation about your legal options in any sexual harassment case, contact Florida employee rights lawyer William Julien in Boca Raton.