If you were a victim of sexual harassment in New Rochelle or elsewhere in Westchester County, you may be eligible for compensation. With a solid legal team like Morelli Law Firm on your side, you can challenge your aggressor and make them pay for their inappropriate behavior.
Our New Rochelle sexual harassment attorneys’ goal is to seek justice on behalf of those victimized by sexual harassment. We provide full legal representation, a thorough investigation into the case, and compassionate advocacy on your behalf. We can provide legal guidance and answer your questions.
How Morelli Law Firm Can Help With Your Sexual Harassment Case
Our New Rochelle sexual harassment lawyers can take on your case and manage your workplace sexual harassment claim. We may be able to help you in the following ways:
- Gather documents and evidence of harassment from your employer, a coworker, or another individual
- Consult you on how to handle future interaction with your employer or your aggressor
- Formulate an effective legal strategy to help you win your case
- Engage with all parties, including your employer, the aggressor, and legal agencies on your behalf
- Represent you throughout litigation during a civil suit or criminal trial
Dealing with a sexual harassment case on your own can make an emotional and stressful situation worse. You need an advocate on your side who can empower you and give you the legal leverage to build a case against the aggressor and your employer who allowed this to occur.
We handle these cases based on contingency. Reach out to us today to learn what this means and how it can ensure you have an opportunity to build a strong case regardless of your financial situation.
Holding Your Employer Accountable for Sexual Harassment at Work
Even if your employer is not at fault for sexual harassment, they may still be liable for allowing the act to occur. To avoid this, your employer should provide support, resources, and a protocol for reporting sexual harassment. In many companies, you will direct a formal complaint to the human resources (HR) department.
Once you report the incident, your employer must investigate your claim and follow up with you. They may also assist you in filing your claim with a state or federal agency such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
A New Rochelle sexual harassment attorney can check in with you to ensure your employer is proceeding through this process as required by law. We can also advise you on which agencies you can report sexual harassment to and how to proceed with your claim. If your employer fails to act on your complaint, we may:
- Help you report the issue with the appropriate government agency
- Bring a case against the employer and abuser
- Take other actions on your behalf
New Rochelle Sexual Harassment Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
When Can I Sue My Employer?
Since unlawful workplace harassment complaints are so common, there are government agencies like the EEOC that have procedures to permit lawsuits against employers, including for sexual harassment. This is why filing a claim at the state or federal level is so important.
If they feel like you have evidence to proceed, or if they wait too long to investigate your case, your lawyer can request a right to sue letter. This is the key document we need to open a formal lawsuit.
It may seem like an extra layer of hassle, but we will also gain access to any evidence that the state or federal agency found in their investigation. They may be able to obtain evidence you could not due to your position.
Understanding Sexual Harassment in New Rochelle
Sexual harassment can happen anywhere. When it occurs, it leaves victims feeling paralyzed, alone, and vulnerable. However, you do not have to put up with someone else’s cavalier and predatory behavior. If you recognize sexual harassment, you can do something about it.
According to a brochure provided by the New York State Office of the Attorney General, the following are examples of different forms of sexual harassment:
- Making conditions of employment dependent on sexual favors
- Physical or verbal acts of sexual assault
- Verbal requests for sexual favors
- Unwarranted physical contact or touching
- Unwelcome sexual advances
- Inappropriate sexual discussions, talk, or jokes
- Sexual exposure or performing self-acts
In addition, sexual harassment can also include receiving explicit emails, text messages, or photos from another person or feeling pressured to engage in sex with someone at work or elsewhere. Sexual harassment is sometimes an umbrella term that also includes sexual assault, rape, and any other type of sexual misconduct.
Do I Have to Be the Target to Sue?
No. If you observe harassing behavior, you can still pursue a claim about what you saw. Even if you’re not the target, that behavior creates a hostile work environment for anyone who doesn’t want to be exposed to it.
Your gender doesn’t matter when you file your claim, nor does there need to be a woman involved. If you work on a team with all males and they have pornography hanging in their lockers or gossip about sexual exploits and you find that offensive, you can speak with a sexual harassment lawyer in New Rochelle to get advice on how to stop it.
When Should I Speak to an Attorney About Sexual Harassment at Work?
When you experience sexual harassment at work, you may have questions about how best to respond. Our sexual harassment team from Morelli Law Firm can answer your questions, explain the legalities of what happened to you, and go over your options before you decide to take action.
Among other things, we can help you decide how to report a claim and when to take legal action. Some of the issues we can help you address include:
Determining If Certain Behavior Is Considered Sexual Harassment
While some behavior at work is less than ideal or even appropriate, it does not mean that it is sexual harassment under the law. We can listen to your story and gather the facts about what happened to help you determine if someone broke the law or violated your rights.
Reporting the Issue at Work
We can help you decide whether reporting the act to your employer is appropriate or beneficial to your well-being. Some acts of sexual harassment can be dealt with simply by confronting the other person. Some require reporting the issue at work.
Other acts may warrant a civil suit or criminal charge. Our New Rochelle sexual harassment lawyers can provide counsel that will help you decide what to do.
If an Employee or Your Employer Retaliates
Employer retaliation is a form of harassment and employment discrimination. As such, New York and federal laws prohibit it. Your employer is not allowed to threaten or intimidate you for reporting sexual harassment.
Furthermore, they are not allowed to change the conditions of your employment as a form of retaliation. They should also protect you from any workplace retaliation from others.
Statute of Limitations on New York State Sexual Harassment Claims
According to the New York State Division of Human Rights, the statute of limitations on reporting workplace harassment recently changed to three years from the date it occurred. This means that you have three years to take action against your coworker, employer, or another individual.
If you fail to file a claim, you may not be able to act against the aggressor or your employer in the future for this example of sexual harassment. If you believe you have a case, do not delay. Speak with our firm as soon as possible.
We can also help if you already filed a claim with a government agency. This could alter the timeline in your case, but you should still reach out to connect with our team as soon as possible. It is not always a quick and easy process to substantiate a sexual harassment claim since many aggressors go out of their way to hide their bad behavior.
Contact Morelli Law Firm If You Endured Sexual Harassment at Work
When someone sexually harasses you, they should be held accountable for their actions. We may be able to help you hold the liable parties responsible and provide legal and emotional support during this process. You may be able to recover compensation.
Morelli Law Firm is here to help you when you are ready to file a claim. Call us at the number on your screen or use our free case evaluation form to get a free case review with a New Rochelle sexual harssment lawyer.