Attorneys at Schaefer Halleen, LLC, have successfully recovered compensation for clients through individual and class action sexual harassment lawsuits.
Minnesota Sexual Harassment Violates the Civil Rights Act
Sexual harassment is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. More than 40 years have gone by since the Act was passed, yet men and women continue to suffer, on a regular basis, from sexual harassment in all types of workplaces. Under Minnesota and federal law, two types of sexual harassment are recognized:
Quid pro quo harassment, where the individual’s submission to sexual advances or to conduct of a sexual nature is used as the basis for an employment decision such as hiring, promotion or pay. If an employee has submitted to such an advance, the employee still can file a claim against the employer.
Hostile work environment sexual harassment, where unwelcome sexual behavior on the part of an employer, supervisor, coworker, customer or client creates a hostile, intimidating work environment. A hostile work environment may be created by repeated sexual advances, demeaning sexual inquiries or vulgarities, offensive sexual language or behavior, the display of sexually offensive, explicit or sexist images, cartoons, calendars, literature, photos or graffiti. Contact us to discuss your case with a knowledgeable lawyer.
Sexual Harassment Violates the Civil Rights Act
The Client: Over twenty female miners integrating a previously all-male worksite. Jenson v. Eveleth Mines, et al., a groundbreaking sexual harassment case depicted in the movie “North Country” starring Charlize Theron
Problem: Subject to unrelenting sexual harassment with no support from management and active participation in harassment from foreman and supervisors.
Approach: Larry Schaefer prosecuted this case for over eight years as the first ever sexual harassment class-action, through every phase of litigation. Larry was one of three lead trial counsel in the first successfully prosecuted class action hostile environment sexual harassment case.
Solution: Case certified as first sexual harassment class ever certified; inadequate damage awards overturned on appeal and ultimately secured millions in settlement for class members, making new and important law at every step in the process. The history of the case is chronicled in CLASS ACTION: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case that Changed Sexual Harassment Law (Doubleday 2002) (C. Bingham, L. Gansler), and was the basis for the movie “North Country,” starring Charlize Theron.
The Client: Healthcare worker
Problem: Co-worker bullied client and put patients’ health at risk; employer ignored client’s reports of illegal and inappropriate conduct
Approach: While the employee continued to work for the employer, approached employer and negotiated client’s separation
Solution: Negotiated substantial exit package for client, which included provisions, designed to enhance client’s ability to find replacement work
Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN
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Are You a Victim of Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment affects men and women in a variety of professions, ranging from college professors to grocery store clerks. Victims include both those personally harassed and anyone else in the workplace affected by the offensive conduct. If you have received, or have been distressed by, any unwelcome sexual conduct in your workplace, and your employer knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to take appropriate action, you may be entitled to a claim for economic loss and emotional distress.
Our success in pursuing sexual harassment claims on behalf of our clients is documented in our Results for Our Clients. If you would like to discuss your situation with one of our attorneys, please contact our Employment law firm in Minneapolis to arrange a free case evaluation. We will explain your legal position and help you make a well-informed decision about how to proceed. Contact Us >
Sexual Harassment Attorney Referrals and Legal Affiliations
Our attorneys welcome the opportunity to affiliate with other lawyers in sexual harassment and other areas of employment law, and have done so on numerous occasions, working with class action and individual rights lawyers nationwide. We also welcome referrals. If you are unsure about the class action potential and strategy for prosecution on a case, please feel free to contact our Minneapolis office and discuss the matter.
FAQs About Minnesota Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you should contact an experienced employment attorney to determine what to do. Determining the mot appropriate way to respond to sexual harassment depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of the harassment, how long the harassment has taken place, and whether or not your employer’s management/HR is aware of the harassment. An experienced employment attorney can help you determine whether to report the harassment internally to your employer or to pursue a legal claim via a lawsuit or with a government enforcement agency such as the EEOC. Regardless, it is wise to document your experiences in writing as promptly as possible.
If you report your sexual harassment internally, your employer must respond in a way that acknowledges your claim and takes corrective action to ensure the harassment doesn’t continue. Many employers are aware of the severity of sexual harassment claims and the repercussions of not taking them seriously, but unfortunately some companies don’t take employees’ claims seriously and legal action may be required.
Your employer cannot punish you for filing an internal complaint about your sexual harassment. If your employer takes negative action against you because of your sexual harassment claim, it is considered retaliation. Retaliation is illegal and there are severe legal repercussions. If you feel you have been retaliated against, contact an employment law attorney.
If you’re experiencing sexual harassment at work and your employer doesn’t believe you or hasn’t helped protect you, then you o work with a workplace sexual harassment attorney. Your attorney can help you file an official complaint with the EEOC and proceed to court if that’s the path you choose to take. They will know all the requirements of a workplace sexual harassment complaint and can draw from past experience to act as your advocate.
If you’ve been fired for reporting sexual harassment to your employer, your termination likely violates state and federa law. You should contact an employment law lawyer in Minneapolis to learn more about how best to pursue an unlawful retaliation claim.
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