Sexual Harassment Attorney in Downtown Brooklyn, NY
Get Justice for Workplace Sexual Harassment
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Brooklyn Sexual Misconduct Attorney
Sexual harassment doesn’t just violate your rights—it attacks your ability to earn a living and destroys your peace of mind. You deserve to work without fear, intimidation, or unwanted advances from supervisors, coworkers, or clients.
When you win your sexual harassment case, you’re not just getting compensation. You’re reclaiming your workplace, your confidence, and your future. You’re sending a clear message that harassment has real consequences.
The right sexual misconduct attorney makes this possible. With proven legal strategies, we help harassment victims in Downtown Brooklyn, NY recover significant financial compensation while protecting their careers and reputations from further damage.
Downtown Brooklyn Employment Discrimination Lawyer
The Howley Law Firm brings Fortune 500 company legal expertise to individual sexual harassment cases in Downtown Brooklyn, NY. For over 20 years, attorney John Howley represented major corporations like Pfizer, Citibank, and Sony in their most critical lawsuits—including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Now we use that same high-level experience to fight for employees who’ve been sexually harassed, discriminated against, or wrongfully treated. Our track record includes an $80 million discrimination class action settlement and over $1 million recovered for individual harassment victims.
This isn’t a volume practice. Every sexual harassment case gets personal attention from a Medal of Excellence award-winning attorney who understands that your reputation and career matter as much as your legal rights.
Sexual Harassment Case Process Brooklyn
Your sexual harassment case begins with a confidential consultation where we review what happened and evaluate your legal options under New York City Human Rights Law, New York State Human Rights Law, and federal Title VII protections.
If we take your case, we handle everything on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we win. We investigate thoroughly, document the harassment, interview witnesses, and build the strongest possible case for maximum compensation including lost wages, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages.
Throughout the process, we protect you from retaliation while pursuing justice through negotiation or litigation. Our goal is securing the compensation you deserve while safeguarding your career and reputation for the future. We understand that more than legal rights are at stake.
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NYC Sexual Assault Attorney Services
New York provides some of the strongest protections against workplace sexual harassment in the country. Unlike federal law, New York City Human Rights Law doesn’t require harassment to be “severe or pervasive”—it just needs to be unwelcome. This gives Downtown Brooklyn, NY workers broader protection than most states.
Whether you experienced quid pro quo harassment where job benefits depended on sexual submission, hostile work environment harassment, unwanted touching, sexual assault, or discriminatory treatment, you have legal options. Recent Cornell University research shows 22% of New Yorkers experience workplace sexual harassment, yet over 65% never report it.
Many fear retaliation or don’t understand their rights. New York law protects you from retaliation and provides significant financial remedies. As a sexual assault attorney, we also handle cases involving physical assault, which may involve both civil litigation and criminal charges. You deserve justice and compensation for what you’ve endured.
What Constitutes Sexual Harassment Under New York Law?
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. In New York City, the conduct doesn’t need to be “severe or pervasive” like under federal law—it simply needs to be unwelcome and based on sex.
This includes quid pro quo harassment where job benefits depend on submitting to sexual conduct, and hostile work environment harassment where the workplace becomes intimidating or offensive. Even comments about your gender, inappropriate jokes, displaying sexual materials, or unwanted touching can constitute harassment.
The harassment can come from supervisors, coworkers, customers, clients, or anyone you interact with in a work context. You don’t need to be the direct target—witnessing harassment of others can also create a hostile work environment that affects your ability to work effectively.
How Long Do I Have To File A Sexual Harassment Claim?
In New York, you have three years to file a sexual harassment complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights. For other forms of discrimination, you typically have one year from the most recent incident. Federal claims under Title VII require filing with the EEOC within 300 days in New York.
However, time limits can be complex and vary depending on which laws apply to your case and whether you’re dealing with quid pro quo harassment, hostile work environment, or sexual assault. Some claims may have shorter deadlines depending on your employer’s size and the specific violations.
The sooner you act, the better we can protect your rights. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and delay can hurt your case. If you’re experiencing harassment in Downtown Brooklyn, NY, document everything and consult with us immediately to preserve your legal options.
Can I Be Fired For Reporting Sexual Harassment?
No. Both federal and New York state laws strictly prohibit retaliation against employees who report sexual harassment, file complaints, or participate in harassment investigations. You cannot be fired, demoted, denied promotions, transferred, or otherwise punished for exercising your legal rights.
Retaliation is actually a separate legal violation that can result in significant damages even if the underlying harassment claim is unsuccessful. Many of our sexual misconduct cases involve retaliation claims that result in substantial compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
If you’re worried about retaliation in Downtown Brooklyn, NY, we can help protect you throughout the process. We can advise you on the safest way to report harassment, document any retaliatory actions, and take immediate legal action if your employer punishes you for speaking up about harassment.
What Compensation Can I Recover In A Sexual Harassment Case?
Sexual harassment victims in New York can recover several types of damages. Economic damages include lost wages, lost benefits, medical expenses, and out-of-pocket costs caused by the harassment. You can also recover compensation for emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and damage to your reputation.
New York law also allows punitive damages in harassment cases, which are designed to punish particularly egregious conduct. These can be substantial—there’s no upper limit on punitive damages in New York state courts. Recent settlements in our sexual assault cases have reached millions of dollars.
Additionally, successful harassment victims can recover attorney’s fees and court costs under New York law. Since we handle cases on contingency, you don’t pay attorney fees unless we win. The amount of your recovery depends on factors like the severity of harassment, impact on your career, and your employer’s response to complaints.
Do I Need To Report Harassment To HR Before Filing A Lawsuit?
While reporting to HR isn’t always required before filing a lawsuit, it’s generally advisable when safe to do so. Your employer’s response to internal complaints can strengthen your sexual harassment case and may be required to establish certain legal claims under Title VII and state law.
However, you shouldn’t report to HR if your harasser is in HR, if you have reason to believe HR won’t act fairly, or if reporting would put you in danger of retaliation or escalated harassment. Some situations involving quid pro quo harassment or sexual assault require immediate legal action.
We can advise you on the best strategy for your specific situation in Downtown Brooklyn, NY. We can help you navigate internal complaint processes while protecting your legal rights, or we can proceed directly to legal action when internal reporting isn’t appropriate or safe for your situation.
What Should I Do If I'm Experiencing Sexual Harassment Right Now?
First, document everything immediately. Keep detailed records of harassing incidents including dates, times, locations, witnesses, and exactly what was said or done. Save any emails, texts, voicemails, or other evidence. Write down your reactions and how the harassment affected your work performance and emotional well-being.
Tell the harasser clearly that their conduct is unwelcome and must stop, if it’s safe to do so. Report the harassment according to your company’s policies, unless doing so would put you at risk of retaliation. Keep copies of all complaints and document your employer’s responses or lack thereof.
Consult with us immediately, even if you’re not sure whether you want to file a lawsuit. We can advise you on protecting your rights, preserving evidence, and understanding your legal options under New York law. Early legal guidance from our experienced team often leads to better outcomes and can prevent the situation from escalating further.
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