What Type of Lawyer Handles Harassment?

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What Type of Lawyer Handles Harassment?

If you believe that you have been subjected to harassment, you may be eligible for compensation by filing a civil lawsuit. Before doing so, it is important to find an experienced attorney as soon as possible to maximize your chances at getting what you deserve in order to move on with your life. 

Not every lawyer handles harassment cases. There are many kinds of lawyers out there, some of whom focus on one particular practice area and others who have multiple practice area law firms. Finding out what type of lawyer handles harassment cases can help you to determine the appropriate attorney to assist you in your case and to help you move forward. 

There are many different kinds of harassment that can influence a victim, some of which may fall under the umbrella of different types of attorneys. Harassment issues can include:

  •       LGBTQ+ rights
  •       Disabilities
  •       Employment discrimination
  •       Nationality or race discrimination
  •       Age discrimination
  •       Sexual harassment
  •       Libel and slander
  •       Gender and sex discrimination

Understanding The Difference Between Work and Non-Work Harassment

One of the primary distinctions in helping to figure out what type of lawyer handles a harassment case is the distinction between workplace harassment and non-work related harassment. Work related harassment issues typically fall under the umbrella of employment law, meaning you would want to retain an experienced employment lawyer to assist you with your case. You should identify an employment lawyer who has a strong track record of handling cases like this before, especially because it can cause you additional anxiety to proceed with a harassment claim. If your harassment at work or outside of work is already causing you distress and impacting your daily life, you need to have an attorney who takes this seriously, remains sensitive to your situation, and will fight on your behalf to recover compensation.

Understanding Workplace Harassment

Harassment is defined as any type of behavior that is threatening, belittling, demeaning, or offensive. It can also include embarrassing or hurtful behavior that seeks to undermine the employee. Many different parties may be involved in a workplace harassment claim, making it all the more important to find an employment lawyer who is familiar with these many different aspects and who can help you to determine any and all parties that may be involved or liable. 

The two primary types of work environment-related harassment are sexual harassment and hostile work environment. A common form of sexual harassment is known as quid pro quo, which typically involves a supervisor or boss offering an employee benefits in exchange for performing a sexual favor. This can also include situations in which the higher-ranking employee threatens the other individual if they refuse to participate in the sexual activity. This can include threats to terminate the employee, actually terminating the employee, removing benefits, and withholding promotions. 

A hostile work environment involves communication or conduct that is considered severe, offensive, unwelcome, unwanted, or ongoing and pervasive. The behavior must interfere with the victim's ability to carry out their work, and the activity must be hostile in nature. 

There can be serious consequences for both a hostile work environment and claims of sexual harassment. There are several different state and federal laws that help to protect employees from sexual harassment, and it is important to meet with an employment attorney as soon as possible to determine whether this has happened in your case. State laws will determine the types of harassment definitions as well as the possible opportunities for recourse. Federal sexual harassment law prohibits the following:

  •       Displays of obscenity such as through videos or pictures
  •       Repeated requests for sexual activities or dates
  •       Any kind of communication that is sexual in nature
  •       Intentional or deliberate touching of another person's body
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FAQ

Get answers to commonly asked questions about our legal services and learn how we may assist you with your case.

  • What Happens After I File a Harassment Lawsuit?

    It can be very complicated to file a harassment lawsuit even if you believe that the law is on your side and you have appropriate evidence. There are several different points to evaluate with the help of an employment attorney when filing a harassment claim. The first of these is that there may be time limits for filing a harassment claim based on federal or state laws. It is important to take legal action as soon as possible after you believe a violation has occurred and finding the right attorney to help you with this can greatly increase your chances of covering all of the main issues. This is important when you're trying to figure out what type of lawyer handles harassment, as the attorney you choose will have a big impact on how you proceed with your case. 

    The second issue to consider in sexual harassment cases is that your ability to receive damages may depend on your ability to provide evidence for the sexual harassment. Video, photos, witness testimony, emails and documents, in addition to other items may be requested for trial. 

    The third thing to know about sexual harassment claims is that the remedies for sexual harassment claims can go beyond simple damages, including removing the offender from their position changing company harassment policies and other changes at the workplace. Some kinds of claims may first require you to go through a governmental agency or department before initiating a private civil lawsuit, so you need to work with an attorney who has experience with this.

  • Understanding Non-Work Harassment

    Although many types of legal cases involving harassment happened at work, there are also those that happen outside of employment scenarios including jokes, touching, advances, and other behavior. Harassment can also violate criminal laws and can even edge into violating a person's privacy or instances of stalking. Harassment can occur in a variety of other kinds of contexts, such as gender harassment or telephone harassment. Some of the most common examples of non-workplace related harassment include:

    •       Issuing threats to a person's well-being or their family members
    •       Using coercive language or threats to obtain a particular goal
    •       Following or stalking a person regularly and consistently
    •       Repeated contact or pressure on social media outlets
    •       Unwanted and repeated phone calls

    Some cases of harassment can even have enough evidence to rise to a level of hate crime, battery or assault, particularly when the conduct involved has to do with a rising level of violence. In general, an experienced and knowledgeable attorney can help you significantly when you are going through this process. Finding an attorney who has ample experience with harassment is very important for protecting your rights. The support of an attorney is instrumental in holding the other party accountable and helping you to explore all possible legal remedies available to you. If you find yourself in these circumstances, do not hesitate to contact an attorney who can fight as hard as possible on your behalf.

  • When Should I Hire a Lawyer?

    If you believe that you have suffered harassment either at work or somewhere else, you need to take action quickly. Since there might be time limits in place for you to file suit, you should speak with a lawyer immediately after the harassment happens. This will also give you a clear idea of some of the most important legal concerns and the kinds of evidence you might need to gather to support your claim.

    In a sitdown with a lawyer, you can also learn more about their individual approach to your case and what you can expect while working together. This information is invaluable for helping you make an informed decision in your case. 

    If you wait too long to file, you run the risk of letting a statute of limitations expire, which eliminates your legal right to pursue a case and compensation. As a victim, you’re also invested in getting results for your legal claim as soon as possible. You can only protect those next steps when you have an attorney review your right to file early on. 

    Our law firm has broad experience in working with many kinds of harassment victims. We work with you from the outset of the case to define a strategy that protects what is most important to you. If you or someone you love has been the victim of harassment, don’t hesitate to contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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