Sexual Harassment in a Dentist's Office
Amy worked as an assistant in a small dentist's office. Her immediate boss was the dentist who owned the practice. Shortly after she was hired, the dentist began making sexual advances.
After a while, she allowed herself to be coerced into a sexual relationship with him, in part for fear of losing her job. After several years of living with this uncomfortable situation, Amy tried to break off the sexual relationship, but he continued to proposition her and pressure her to engage in intimate acts. He also told her that she should look for another job. Finally, he came to her house one evening. She asked him to leave, but he would not. She then went to sleep, having taken several medications prescribed for her ongoing anxiety and distress. While she was in a heavy and heavily medicated sleep, he engaged in sexual intercourse with her, which he told her about the next morning. The pressure Amy had experienced over a number of years, and the humiliation and degradation of her employer's actions, had already taken a significant toll on her. His outright assault on her while she was sleeping was the final straw, and she finally resigned from her job so that she would not have to continue to deal with him. |
Need Help With a Sexual Harassment Issue?OR
|
Harassment Solution
We helped Amy with a civil lawsuit, brought under a pseudonym given the highly personal nature of the facts in the case. After some discovery, we went with her to a mediation session, and were able to negotiate a substantial settlement for her.
Postscript
The settlement was meaningful to Amy not just because it helped compensate her financially, but also because resolving the case allowed her to finally move on with her life, and put this terrible experience behind her.
If you are in a similar situation, remember that you do not have to put up with this kind of behavior, even if it is not as outrageous as the conduct of Amy's boss. Also remember that if bringing a lawsuit would publicly expose sensitive personal information, as was the case for Amy, you may be able to bring a claim under a pseudonym so that you can protect your privacy without giving up your legal claims.
If you are in a similar situation, remember that you do not have to put up with this kind of behavior, even if it is not as outrageous as the conduct of Amy's boss. Also remember that if bringing a lawsuit would publicly expose sensitive personal information, as was the case for Amy, you may be able to bring a claim under a pseudonym so that you can protect your privacy without giving up your legal claims.
How Our Employment Lawyers Can Help
If you feel that you are the target of sexual behavior, misconduct or harassment, we can help. We will help you assess the situation, understand your rights and obligations, and make a plan to solve the problem. You can use the button below to schedule a call back from a member of our team, or give us a call at 781-784-2322.
