HRMML

Workplace Sexual Assault and Abuse

As the #MeToo movement continues to light up Twitter, an unprecedented number of employees are coming forward with stories of rape; unwanted touching, kissing, and groping; and forced sex acts at the office.

The average U.S. worker spends 55 hours per week participating in work-related activities. Yet, despite the significant amount of time we spend at the office, our employers often fail to keep us safe. According to government data:

  • While working or on duty, American employees fell victim to 36,500 rapes and sexual assaults from 1993 to 1999.
  • Women are the victims of 80 percent of rapes and sexual assaults that take place in the workplace.
  • Between 2005 and 2009, rape and sexual assault accounted for 2.3 percent of all nonfatal violence in the workplace.

When an employee is sexually assaulted by a supervisor, manager, or coworker, the criminal justice system―if the incident is reported to law enforcement―will deal with the perpetrator, hopefully by convicting and incarcerating him or her. However, the employee is often left with devastating psychological―and sometimes physical―injuries, for which the only redress is a civil lawsuit for financial compensation. That lawsuit can target parties beyond the direct perpetrator, such as the employer, who may have failed to perform a proper background check on the offending employee or failed to supervise or dismiss the offending employee despite knowledge of the danger.

Proving an employer’s liability for workplace sexual assault requires not only legal experience, but also rigorous investigation and expertise from professionals who can assess whether an employer’s human resources policies, practices, and procedures enabled the perpetrator. Other necessary experts may include doctors to establish physical and emotional injuries, and a valuation expert to calculate complex financial losses, such as lost wages, lost future earning capacity, and future medical expenses.

We have the financial resources to retain appropriate investigators and experts in all necessary disciplines, so we can establish the underlying facts of these incidents―which often cause shame, humiliation, trauma, and psychological injuries that last a lifetime. And because we have decades of experience bringing sexual predators to justice, we get maximum financial compensation for our clients.

We’re Here to Help You

Employers do not always investigate allegations of sexual assault and abuse. They protect top executives and revenue producers. Contact us immediately.

We fight so you’ll receive justice and compensation for your psychological and physical injuries and other losses by holding all culpable parties accountable. Employers work to protect themselves. They do not necessarily care about conducting an unbiased, thorough investigation, and compensating you for any wrongs they committed. Contact us to find out whether you have grounds for a lawsuit.

We immediately evaluate your case so you know the status.

We’re highly experienced at handling workplace sexual assault and abuse cases and can efficiently review your case, in conjunction with our multidisciplinary team of experts. If your case is right for us, we’ll proceed with a full investigation and evaluation of the facts and legal issues, and determine the likelihood of a fair settlement or need to file a lawsuit. We’ll keep you up-to-date on all developments and advise you on the range of possible outcomes so you can make educated decisions.

Because a monetary award will significantly impact your life, we put our negotiation and trial skills and experience to work.

We’re master negotiators, so you can rely on us to negotiate the best possible settlement for you. If the parties can’t agree on money, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit and aggressively try your case in the courtroom. And we have a proven track record of securing winning verdicts and other favorable resolutions in sexual assault and abuse cases.

Our sensitivity and compassion are as important as our legal representation.

Sexual assault and abuse―particularly when it threatens our livelihood and causes missed career opportunities―leaves the victim with a wide range of emotions ranging from guilt, embarrassment, anger, self-blame, fear, loss of control, vulnerability, and more. We understand the trauma and confusion that the victim and family experience when an employer, whom they depend upon for financial security, puts them in harm’s way. The victim’s world is turned upside-down.

Be assured that we will handle your case in a sensitive and compassionate manner that respects your emotional needs, personal dignity, and privacy. Our team of lawyers, paralegals, and secretaries will coordinate with one another about your case and keep in constant contact with you and your family. We help clients in these emotionally tough times by being accessible, supportive, and genuine. Our sensitivity and compassion make us better lawyers, too.

If a new legal matter arises during your case, we can help.

The firm’s workplace sexual assault and abuse practice is just one of many HRMM&L law practices. Because HRMM&L is a full-service law firm with substantial resources, we’re able to advise you on other legal problems that may arise during your case. And if the legal problem is one our firm doesn’t handle, we’ll refer you to another lawyer and firm whom we know and trust.

Other sexual assault and abuse problems you may encounter during your case: