Sexual Harassment Attorney in Boerum Hill
Get Justice for Workplace Sexual Harassment
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Sexual Harassment Cases in Brooklyn
You deserve to work without fear, intimidation, or unwanted advances. When harassment disrupts your professional life, we fight to restore what was taken from you. Our clients recover compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and career damage while securing protection from future harassment.
The impact goes beyond money. You get your confidence back, your workplace becomes safe again, and other employees see that speaking up leads to real change. We’ve helped executives, managers, and professionals across Brooklyn’s corporate landscape reclaim their careers and dignity.
Brooklyn Sexual Harassment Lawyers
We have spent three decades representing Boerum Hill and Brooklyn professionals in employment disputes. We understand the unique workplace dynamics in this affluent neighborhood, where 95% of residents work in executive, management, and professional roles.
Our track record speaks volumes: $80 million recovered in discrimination cases, countless individual victories, and a reputation that makes employers take notice. We’ve represented everyone from corporate executives to healthcare professionals, understanding that harassment affects people at every level.
John Howley brings big law firm experience to individual cases, having previously represented major corporations before dedicating his practice to fighting for employees like you.
Sexual Harassment Legal Process NY
We start with a confidential consultation where you share your experience without judgment. We evaluate your case, explain your rights under New York’s strong anti-harassment laws, and outline your options for moving forward.
Next, we build your case methodically. We gather evidence, document the harassment pattern, and prepare for negotiations or litigation. Throughout this process, we protect you from retaliation while pursuing maximum compensation for your damages.
Finally, we fight for the outcome you deserve. Whether through settlement negotiations or courtroom advocacy, we leverage our 30 years of experience to secure compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and career impact while ensuring your workplace becomes safe again.
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NYC Sexual Harassment Laws
New York offers some of the nation’s strongest protections against workplace harassment. Under NYC Human Rights Law, harassment doesn’t need to be “severe or pervasive” – unwelcome conduct alone can be grounds for legal action. This gives Boerum Hill’s professional workforce broader protection than federal law provides.
The law covers all forms of sexual harassment, from quid pro quo situations where job benefits are tied to sexual favors, to hostile work environment cases involving unwanted comments, touching, or discriminatory treatment. With 22% of New York workers experiencing harassment, these protections are crucial.
You’re entitled to compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, medical expenses, and punitive damages. The law also provides injunctive relief, meaning courts can order your employer to stop the harassment, restore your position, or implement workplace changes to prevent future incidents.
What constitutes sexual harassment under New York law?
Sexual harassment in New York includes any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that affects your work environment. This covers obvious behaviors like unwanted touching, sexual comments, or requests for sexual favors, but also extends to gender-based discrimination and creating hostile work conditions.
Under NYC Human Rights Law, the conduct doesn’t need to be “severe or pervasive” like federal law requires. Even isolated incidents can be actionable if they’re unwelcome. This includes offensive jokes, inappropriate emails, sexual imagery in the workplace, or discriminatory treatment based on your sex or gender identity.
The key is that the behavior was unwelcome and affected your work environment. Courts recognize that victims may sometimes appear to go along with harassment due to fear of retaliation, so your response to the conduct doesn’t determine whether it constitutes harassment.
How much compensation can I recover in a sexual harassment case?
Compensation in sexual harassment cases varies based on the severity and impact of the harassment. You can recover lost wages, including future earning capacity if the harassment damaged your career prospects. Many Boerum Hill professionals see significant career impact, given the neighborhood’s high concentration of executive and management positions.
Emotional distress damages compensate for the psychological impact of harassment, including anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life. Medical expenses for counseling or therapy related to the harassment are also recoverable. In egregious cases, punitive damages punish the employer and deter future misconduct.
We have recovered millions for harassment victims, including substantial settlements for individual clients and class actions. We work on contingency, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. This allows you to pursue justice without financial risk while we fight for maximum compensation.
What should I do immediately after experiencing workplace sexual harassment?
Document everything immediately. Keep detailed records of each incident, including dates, times, locations, witnesses, and exactly what was said or done. Save any relevant emails, texts, or other evidence in your personal files away from work. This documentation becomes crucial evidence in your case.
Report the harassment to your employer following their established procedures, typically through HR or your supervisor. Even if you don’t expect a satisfactory response, creating an official record protects your legal rights. Keep copies of your complaint and any employer response.
Contact an experienced sexual harassment attorney as soon as possible. New York has strict deadlines for filing harassment claims – typically one to three years depending on the law under which you file. Early legal consultation helps preserve evidence, protect you from retaliation, and ensure you don’t miss critical deadlines that could bar your case.
Can my employer retaliate against me for reporting sexual harassment?
Retaliation for reporting sexual harassment is illegal under federal, state, and local law. Your employer cannot fire, demote, transfer, or otherwise punish you for filing a harassment complaint or participating in an investigation. This protection extends to informal complaints and good faith reports, even if the harassment claim isn’t ultimately proven.
Retaliation can be subtle – increased scrutiny, exclusion from meetings, assignment to less desirable projects, or creating a hostile environment. New York law recognizes these indirect forms of retaliation and provides strong remedies for victims. You can recover damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and other harms caused by retaliatory conduct.
If you experience retaliation, document it immediately and contact an attorney. Retaliation claims often result in significant additional damages beyond the original harassment case. The law specifically protects employees who speak out against workplace misconduct, ensuring you can report harassment without fear of losing your job or career prospects.
How long do I have to file a sexual harassment lawsuit in New York?
Time limits for sexual harassment claims vary depending on which law governs your case. Under the New York State Human Rights Law, you have three years to file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights. For federal Title VII claims, you must file with the EEOC within 300 days of the harassment.
NYC Human Rights Law provides the longest deadline – three years to file directly in court or with the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Many attorneys recommend filing under multiple laws to maximize protection and recovery options. Each law offers different benefits and remedies.
Don’t wait to seek legal advice. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and employers may destroy relevant documents. Early consultation allows us to preserve evidence, advise you on reporting requirements, and ensure we file under the laws that provide the strongest protection and maximum compensation for your specific situation.
What makes The Howley Law Firm different from other employment attorneys?
Our 30 years of experience representing both corporations and employees gives us unique insight into how employers think and respond to harassment claims. John Howley previously worked at major law firms representing companies like Pfizer and Citibank, so we understand corporate defense strategies and can counter them effectively.
We provide the same high-quality representation to individuals that large corporations receive. Our track record includes an $80 million discrimination class action settlement and numerous individual victories for professionals across Brooklyn’s business community. We understand the specific workplace dynamics in Boerum Hill’s professional environment.
We work on contingency for qualified cases, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we win. This aligns our interests with yours and removes financial barriers to seeking justice. We limit our caseload to provide personalized attention, ensuring your case receives the focus and resources needed for maximum recovery and protection of your rights.
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