Can You Sue a Company for Sexual Harassment?

Even if you know that you are the victim of sexual harassment, you may be unsure about how to bring legal action against the offending company. When you are hoping to file a sexual harassment lawsuit, make sure to take the following steps:

Do Not Stay Silent

It is important to speak up about your experience of sexual harassment. Although it does not excuse the behavior, some perpetrators are unaware that their behavior is offensive.
 
Bring your discomfort to the attention of the perpetrator. In some cases, this will be enough to get the behavior to stop.
 
Whether the person stops or continues the inappropriate behavior, you should also follow the company’s internal protocols for sexual harassment.

Follow Your Company’s Protocol

Although it is unfair that victims must take these actions, it is important to follow your company's internal guidelines for sexual harassment. This will make it more likely that a future lawsuit will succeed.
 
Even if your company does not solve the problem internally, it is crucial to have a record of reporting the behavior. Most large companies will have specific guidelines for reporting inappropriate behavior. 
 
For example, most corporations allow employees to file formal complaints through the Human Resources department. 
 
Oftentimes, the business will collect the following information about your situation:

• How long the harassment has been occurring
• The nature of the behavior
• The number of individual incidents
• And more

If your company makes an internal report of the misconduct, make sure to request a copy. If you decide to sue, your attorney will use this internal report as evidence.

Keep Notes About the Harassment

While it is uncomfortable, you should take notes to help you remember the dates and nature of the harassment you experience. You should also record who you spoke with about the behavior and any other actions that you took.
 
Over time, it may become difficult to remember specific details. Keeping detailed notes will help your lawyer to build a powerful case on your behalf. 

Contact a Sexual Harassment Attorney

Finally, it is critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. A legal professional can help to ensure that you build the strongest case possible.
 
The legal experts at Morgan & Morgan understand the many challenges that victims of sexual harassment face. Our lawyers will walk you through every step of filing a sexual harassment lawsuit.

When you file a successful sexual harassment lawsuit, the financial compensation that you receive is known as your “damages.” The types and amounts of damages that you are awarded will depend on many factors of your case.
 
Some damages are intended to make up for the direct financial losses that resulted from the harassment. Other kinds of damages are meant to punish the offending party for reprehensible behavior.

Back Pay and Front Pay

When someone is denied a promotion or raise as the result of sexual harassment, they may be owed back pay. This type of damages compensates the victim for the earnings and benefits that they lost because of the harassment. This may include:

• Wages
• Bonuses
• The value of benefits
• Sick and vacation pay
• Stocks and other assets

In sexual harassment cases, you may also be owed “front pay.” This is a type of compensation meant to make up for the payments that the victim will miss out on in the future because of the harassment. 

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not intended to make up for the victim’s losses or suffering. Instead, this type of payment is meant to punish companies that do not take appropriate action to stop harassment.
 
Suppose that your employer was aware that you were experiencing harassment but did nothing. In this case, you may be awarded punitive damages. 
 
To calculate the value of your sexual harassment claim, reach out to one of the skilled tort attorneys at Morgan & Morgan. We will review the facts of your harassment case and fight for maximum compensation for you.

Like all trustworthy personal injury law firms, Morgan & Morgan proudly provides new clients with a no-cost case evaluation. When you contact us, we will schedule a legal consultation to review the facts of your case.
 
During this initial meeting, we will answer any questions you have. We will also provide you with an assessment of your legal claim. 
 
You should never meet with a firm that requires upfront payments. Contact Morgan & Morgan to arrange your no-obligation initial consultation.

Under federal law, victims of sexual harassment can only recover a certain amount in punitive and compensatory damages. The limits of compensatory and punitive damages are:

• Companies with 15-100 employees – $50,000
• Companies with 101-200 employees – $100,000
• Companies with 201-500 employees – $200,000
• Companies with over 500 employees – $300,000

Different states set these limits differently. To explore possible damages in your case, reach out to America’s largest personal injury firm­–Morgan & Morgan.

When you need the best sexual harassment attorneys available, reach out to the firm at Morgan & Morgan. Since our founding, our attorneys have won and settled over a million claims.
 
As a result of our successful track record, Morgan & Morgan has secured more than $20 billion in financial recovery for our clients. We will fight tirelessly to get justice in your sexual harassment case.
 
Do not allow negligent companies to ignore or downplay instances of workplace misconduct. The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan can help.
 
To arrange a no-cost legal consultation, fill out the contact form on our website. Let our legal experts recover compensation for you.