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You shouldn’t have to choose between your job and your safety. When workplace sexual harassment turns your life upside down, you need an attorney who understands what’s really at stake—not just your legal case, but your career, reputation, and peace of mind.
The right legal representation changes everything. You get your power back. Harassers face real consequences. Your employer takes notice and makes changes.
Most importantly, you move forward knowing you stood up for yourself and potentially protected others from experiencing what you went through.
The Howley Law Firm brings corporate-level legal representation to individuals facing workplace sexual harassment in Brownsville, NY. For 20 years, we represented Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Texaco, and Citibank, arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Now we use that same high-level expertise to fight for employees who’ve been sexually harassed at work. We’ve helped clients recover millions of dollars, including an $80 million settlement in a discrimination class action.
Unlike large firms that treat you like a case number, our small firm gives each client the personal attention your situation deserves. We understand that Brownsville workers face unique challenges, and we’re here to protect both your legal rights and your future career prospects.
Your case starts with a confidential consultation where we listen to your story and evaluate your legal options. Everything you tell us stays private, and there’s no pressure to move forward.
If you decide to work with us, we immediately begin documenting your case and protecting you from retaliation. We handle all communication with your employer and their legal team while you focus on your job and your life.
We file the necessary complaints with the EEOC or New York State Division of Human Rights, then pursue your case through negotiation or litigation. Throughout the process, you pay nothing upfront—we only get paid if we win your case.
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Sexual harassment in Brownsville workplaces takes many forms, and we handle them all. Whether you’re facing quid pro quo harassment where job benefits are tied to sexual favors, or a hostile work environment filled with inappropriate comments and unwanted touching, we have the experience to build a strong case.
New York’s employment laws have strengthened significantly since the #MeToo movement. Judges and juries are more likely to believe victims and award substantial damages. We leverage these legal advantages to maximize your recovery.
Our comprehensive approach includes pursuing economic damages for lost wages and missed promotions, non-economic damages for emotional distress, and punitive damages to send a message. If we win, your employer often pays our attorney fees too, meaning your settlement goes directly to you.
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that interferes with your work or creates a hostile environment. This covers obvious behavior like unwanted touching or requests for sexual favors, but also includes inappropriate comments about your body, sexual jokes, leering, or displaying sexual images.
New York law recognizes two main types: quid pro quo harassment (where job benefits depend on sexual compliance) and hostile work environment (where the workplace becomes intimidating or offensive). Even subtle behavior can qualify if it’s unwelcome and affects your work.
The key is that you don’t have to prove the behavior was severe—New York’s laws are broader than federal law and protect you from conduct that might not rise to the federal level but still makes your workplace uncomfortable or unsafe.
Yes, you can still pursue a sexual harassment lawsuit even if you didn’t report it to HR or management first. While reporting internally can sometimes strengthen your case, it’s not required under New York law, and there are many valid reasons why victims don’t report.
Many employees fear retaliation, don’t trust their company’s complaint process, or worry that HR will protect the company rather than the employee. Others may have reported informally but didn’t follow the exact procedures outlined in employee handbooks.
What matters most is documenting the harassment when it happens and preserving evidence like emails, text messages, or witness information. We can help you build a strong case regardless of whether you used your company’s internal complaint process, and we’ll protect you from retaliation once we get involved.
Sexual harassment settlements and awards vary widely based on the severity of harassment, impact on your career, and your employer’s conduct. We’ve helped clients recover everything from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, including our $80 million discrimination class action settlement.
Economic damages cover lost wages, missed promotions, reduced earning capacity, and job search expenses. Non-economic damages compensate for emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and damage to your reputation. Punitive damages punish particularly egregious behavior.
New York law also allows you to recover attorney fees if you win, meaning your settlement money goes directly to you rather than paying legal costs. Since we work on contingency, you pay nothing upfront and only owe fees if we successfully recover money for you.
Retaliation is illegal under both New York and federal law, and employers who retaliate face additional legal consequences beyond the original harassment claim. However, we understand that fear of retaliation keeps many victims silent, which is why we take immediate steps to protect you.
Once we’re involved, we document everything and put your employer on notice that any adverse action against you will result in additional legal claims. We also advise you on how to protect yourself and preserve evidence of any retaliatory behavior.
If retaliation does occur—such as termination, demotion, schedule changes, or creating a more hostile environment—it actually strengthens your case and increases your potential recovery. Employers who retaliate often face punitive damages and attorney fee awards that make your case even more valuable.
Time limits for sexual harassment claims vary depending on which laws you’re filing under, but acting quickly is always better. For federal claims under Title VII, you typically have 300 days from the last incident to file with the EEOC. New York State Human Rights Law gives you three years to file.
However, evidence disappears and memories fade over time, so the sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case will be. We can also file complaints that stop the clock on certain deadlines while we investigate and build your case.
Don’t let fear or uncertainty cause you to miss important deadlines. Even if you’re not sure whether you have a case, a confidential consultation can help you understand your options and preserve your rights while you decide how to proceed.
If you’re currently experiencing sexual harassment, start documenting everything immediately. Keep detailed records of incidents including dates, times, locations, witnesses, and exactly what was said or done. Save inappropriate emails, text messages, or voicemails on your personal devices, not company equipment.
Report the behavior if you feel safe doing so, but don’t feel obligated to use your company’s internal process if you’re concerned about retaliation or believe it won’t be effective. Your safety and job security come first.
Contact an experienced sexual harassment attorney as soon as possible for confidential guidance on protecting yourself and preserving your legal rights. We can advise you on immediate steps to take, help you navigate internal complaints if appropriate, and ensure you’re building the strongest possible case while the harassment is ongoing.
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