Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Brookline, MA
Navigating a sexual harassment case can be daunting, but you don’t have to face it alone. If you’re dealing with sexual harassment in the Brookline, MA, area, our team at the Fogelman Law Firm is here to offer support and legal guidance.
We’re here to help you through every step of the process, from helping you understand what constitutes sexual harassment to knowing your rights and legal options. We understand how tough these cases can be for the victims and strive to streamline the process by shouldering the complexities of the legal system. If you’re dealing with sexual misconduct and need assistance taking legal action, we can help.
Defining Sexual Harassment
In Massachusetts, sexual harassment is defined as any sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and similar verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It applies to various situations, including those when sexual conduct becomes the basis for employment decisions or serves to unreasonably interfere with the victim’s work by creating a hostile work environment.
Examples of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can take many forms. While it’s often associated with physical forms of harassment, it can also be verbal and non-verbal. Common examples of sexual harassment include:
- Unwanted touching, such as groping, hugging, or patting
- Indecent exposure
- Sharing sexually explicit photos or videos
- Requests for sexual favors
- Sexually suggestive gestures
- Using sexually explicit language
- Jokes of a sexual nature
- Name-calling
- Offensive remarks
- Inappropriate comments about an individual’s appearance
- Staring or leering
What Kind of Evidence is Necessary in a Sexual Harassment Case?
Evidence plays a pivotal role in a sexual harassment case. Multiple types of evidence can back up your claim, including:
- Documentation of incidents, such as emails, text messages, or written communication that demonstrates the harassment
- Witness testimonies from individuals who observed the harassment
- Performance evaluations that show a sudden change in performance after the harassment began
- Records of complaints made to HR or management regarding harassment
- Gifts, notes, or other items related to the harassment
These are simply examples of possible types of evidence that may help in your case. Every sexual harassment case is unique, so certain types of evidence may not apply. There may be evidence not listed here that may apply—it all depends on the specifics of your case.
It also depends on if the harasser is a supervisor or a peer. If a supervisor is involved, the company will be held strictly liable.
Your Brookline sexual harassment lawyer can help you determine what types of evidence will be helpful in your case. If you’re not sure what types of evidence to gather or what might apply to your case, talk to your lawyer.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Harassment Case?
Like most cases, a specific filing deadline applies to a Massachusetts sexual harassment case. If you’re filing your complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), you have 300 days after the alleged act of discrimination to file your claim.
Conversely, if you’re filing your complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), you may have 180 days after the alleged act to take action, although that deadline is extended to 300 days if you are pursuing state law claims. In any event, it is crucial to file your claim within these deadlines. If you don’t, you may lose your ability to pursue legal action against the at-fault party.
What to Do If You’re Experiencing Sexual Harassment
If you’re experiencing sexual harassment, there are steps you can take to safeguard yourself and your rights.
The first is to document the harassment. Take detailed notes of every instance of the harassment, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what happened. If anyone was around to witness the incident, write down their name.
If the harassment occurs at work, you should have access to a specific set of steps to report it. Employers must have a sexual harassment policy with clear steps to report such conduct, such as reporting the behavior to human resources (HR) or a supervisor. Follow your employer’s instructions to report the behavior.
Aside from reporting the harassment internally, you can also reach out to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These agencies accept reports of harassment and can investigate your complaint, possibly even providing a remedy.
Through it all, it’s important to remember that you have the right to a safe work environment. If your employer retaliates against you for reporting the conduct, such as by demoting, firing, or mistreating you after receiving the claim, you may have grounds for a legal claim. Such retaliation is illegal.
Regardless of whether you report the incident internally or to external agencies, it’s a good idea to consult with a knowledgeable sexual harassment lawyer. Your lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you understand your legal options.
How Can a Sexual Harassment Lawyer Help?
Sexual harassment cases can be scary and overwhelming, especially considering how complicated and intricate the legal system is. That’s where our experienced Brookline sexual harassment lawyers come in.
We’re here to guide you through the process, ensuring you understand the steps and potential outcomes involved in a lawsuit. We will:
- Evaluate your case to help you determine your rights and legal options
- Provide sound legal advice and guidance to help you determine what you’d like to do
- Help gather and organize evidence to support your case
- File necessary paperwork within applicable deadlines
- Help you understand potential outcomes and possible courses of action
- Represent you in negotiations with the other party or their legal representation
- Advocate for you in court or other legal proceedings if necessary
We are your advocates through every step of your case. If you’re dealing with sexual harassment and need help with the next steps in pursuing legal action, we can help.
Consult With Our Skilled Sexual Harassment Lawyers Today
If you’ve been experiencing sexual harassment, our knowledgeable team at the Fogelman Law Firm is here to help. Our skilled Brookline sexual harassment lawyers can help you determine your legal options and uphold your rights, as we’ve done for many other Massachusetts residents in similar situations. Contact us today at (617) 559-1530 or complete our online contact form to start with a free consultation.
