YOUR INQUIRIES ARE WELCOME AND AT NO COST! 818-291-0088

Blog

Sex Harassment Creates a Hostile Work Environment

Posted by Joe Sayas | Sep 05, 2019

Chastity Jones is a 42-year-old single mother, who worked as a sales accountant at Hologram USA and FilmOn.TV, companies owned by billionaire Alkiviades David. FilmOn.TV Networks is an online television service and Hologram USA operates a hologram theater in Hollywood that has produced holographic images of entertainers Billie Holiday, Jackie Wilson and Bernie Mac.

 Jones said that during her employment at David's companies, David subjected her to a barrage of sexually harassing conduct. Jones said David forced her to watch a repulsive fetish video. David also hired a male stripper to come to the workplace during an executive's birthday celebration. She said she found the stripper's appearance offensive and considered it sexual harassment. Jones said David gave her unwanted shoulder rubs while she worked. Jones also claimed sexual battery which included three incidents where David, while at the workplace, touched Jones' private parts without her consent.

 Jones said she was hired in January 2015 but was fired in November 2016 because she refused to have sex with David. Jones sued David and his companies for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, and retaliation.

 Although the law is not designed to rid the workplace of vulgarity, specific conduct may cross the line from “vulgarity” into sexual harassment. Courts recognize two types of sexual harassment. The first type is called quid pro quo harassment. This harassment exists when submission to a sexual conduct is made a condition of employment benefits. When Jones was fired for refusing to submit to David's sexual demands, it can be argued that sex with David was a condition of Jones' continued employment at David's companies.

 The second type involves harassment created by a “hostile environment.” This claim may arise where unwelcome sexual conduct interferes with an employee's job performance or creates a hostile working environment, even if it does not lead to economic job benefits. In Jones' case, David's unwelcome sexual comments and inappropriate touching of Jones despite her requests to stop created a hostile work environment for her (and others who witnessed this interaction), even if there was no threat of termination. The hiring of the stripper may also have crossed the line and created a hostile environment for those who found it offensive, as Jones did.

In either type of sexual harassment, the complainant must establish that the sexual conduct is unwelcome, or must create a work environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to reasonable people. 

If the employee's efforts to end sexual harassment by reporting it to management resulted in suspension or termination, management's conduct may be retaliation. Sexual harassment and retaliation cases are taken seriously by the courts and the juries.

In Jones' case, the jury found David and his companies liable for sexual harassment and sexual battery. The jury agreed that she was wrongfully terminated after refusing David's advances. The jury also deemed that workplace management knew or should have known about the harassment and hostile environment but failed to stop it. The jury awarded Jones $3.1 million in compensatory damages. The jury also found that the employers acted with malice, fraud or oppression, which entitled Jones to punitive damages. After hearing evidence regarding the malicious and oppressive nature of David's conduct, the jury ordered David to pay $8 million in punitive damages for committing sexual battery. ©

About the Author

Joe Sayas

C. JOE SAYAS, JR., Esq. Recognized as one of California's top employment and labor law attorneys by the Daily Journal, C. Joe Sayas, Jr. has devoted his more than 25-year litigation career to protecting workers' and consumer rights. He has fought for employees discriminated due to disability, ra...

Contact Us Today

Your inquiries are welcome at no cost!

You’re here likely because you have a question that needs an answer. You may be struggling with decisions that may affect your rights. We have decades of experience handling life-altering and high-value cases in employment law, insurance law, and civil rights. You can depend on us to help you with the compassion that you deserve.

Talk to us and find out how we can help you. Call us at (818) 291-0088 or fill out our contact form today.

Menu