Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Lower East Side
Get Justice for Workplace Sexual Harassment
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Lower East Side Sexual Harassment Attorney
When sexual harassment stops controlling your workday, everything changes. You sleep better knowing you stood up for yourself. You walk into work with your head held high instead of dreading every interaction. Your career gets back on track because you’re not constantly distracted by stress and anxiety.
The harassment that once made you question your worth becomes proof of your strength. You get compensated for the wages you lost, the emotional pain you endured, and the dignity that was stolen from you. Most importantly, you send a clear message that this behavior won’t be tolerated—not by you, and not by anyone else who might face the same situation.
This isn’t just about winning a case. It’s about reclaiming your professional life and making sure other employees don’t have to suffer what you went through.
NYC Sexual Harassment Law Firm
We have been representing Lower East Side employees since 1990. John Howley brings over 30 years of trial experience, including arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, to every sexual harassment case.
We’ve secured an $80 million settlement in a race discrimination class action and an $800,000 settlement for a live-in nanny in a sexual harassment lawsuit. These results come from understanding that sexual harassment cases require both legal expertise and genuine care for what our clients are going through.
Lower East Side workers face unique challenges—from small businesses that think they’re exempt from harassment laws to large corporations that try to silence victims. We know these tactics because we’ve been fighting them for decades in Manhattan’s employment landscape.
Sexual Harassment Case Process NYC
First, we listen. During your free consultation, we review what happened and explain your legal options under New York’s strong anti-harassment laws. You’ll understand exactly what constitutes sexual harassment and whether you have a viable case.
Next, we investigate. We help you document incidents, identify witnesses, and preserve evidence like emails or text messages. This foundation is crucial because harassment cases often come down to proving a pattern of unwelcome behavior.
Then we fight. We file complaints with the appropriate agencies, negotiate with your employer’s legal team, and prepare for trial if necessary. Throughout this process, you’re protected from retaliation while we handle the legal complexities.
Finally, we recover. Whether through settlement or jury verdict, we work to get you compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
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Sexual Harassment Legal Services NYC
Our sexual harassment representation covers every form of workplace misconduct—from quid pro quo demands to hostile work environment claims. We handle cases involving unwanted touching, sexual comments, inappropriate emails, and retaliation for reporting harassment.
In Lower East Side’s diverse business environment, harassment takes many forms. Restaurant workers face inappropriate behavior from managers and customers. Office employees deal with crude jokes and unwanted advances. Healthcare workers encounter patients and supervisors who cross professional boundaries.
New York’s laws are stronger than federal protections. Under the New York City Human Rights Law, even a single severe incident can be actionable, and employers with any number of employees are covered—not just those with 15 or more like under federal law. This means you have legal recourse regardless of your workplace size.
We also handle related claims like pregnancy discrimination, gender discrimination, and wrongful termination that often accompany sexual harassment cases.
What counts as sexual harassment under New York law?
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile work environment or affects your employment. This covers verbal harassment like sexual comments or jokes, physical harassment like unwanted touching, visual harassment like inappropriate images, and quid pro quo situations where job benefits depend on sexual favors.
Under New York City Human Rights Law, the harassment doesn’t need to be “severe or pervasive” like under federal law. Even a single serious incident can be grounds for a lawsuit if it’s more than a trivial inconvenience. The key is that the behavior was unwelcome and based on sex or gender.
Do I need to report harassment to HR before filing a lawsuit?
While reporting to HR can strengthen your case, it’s not always required under New York law, especially if you reasonably believe it would be futile or dangerous. Many employees worry that HR will protect the company rather than investigate fairly—and unfortunately, they’re often right.
If you do report internally, document everything: when you reported, to whom, what they said, and what actions they took. If HR conducts a superficial investigation or sides with management, this actually becomes evidence of your employer’s failure to address harassment. We can use their inadequate response to build a stronger case against them.
How long do I have to file a sexual harassment claim?
In New York, you generally have one year to file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights or three years with the New York State Division of Human Rights. For federal EEOC complaints, you have 300 days.
However, these deadlines can be complex, and waiting too long makes it harder to gather evidence and find witnesses. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and witnesses move on to other jobs. We recommend consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after the harassment occurs.
What damages can I recover in a sexual harassment case?
You can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include lost wages, benefits, and future earning capacity if the harassment affected your career advancement. You may also recover attorney fees and costs.
Non-economic damages compensate for emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages recognize that sexual harassment causes real psychological harm that affects your personal relationships, health, and overall well-being. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct.
Will my employer retaliate against me for filing a harassment complaint?
Retaliation for reporting sexual harassment is illegal under New York law, but it unfortunately happens. Employers may try to fire you, demote you, give you poor performance reviews, or create a hostile work environment to punish you for speaking up.
The good news is that retaliation claims often result in significant additional damages. We document any adverse actions taken against you after reporting harassment and use this as evidence of illegal retaliation. New York’s anti-retaliation protections are strong, and we know how to enforce them effectively to protect our clients.
How much does it cost to hire a sexual harassment lawyer?
We handle sexual harassment cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case through settlement or jury verdict. This arrangement ensures that everyone has access to experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation.
There are no upfront costs, hourly fees, or retainers. We only get paid when you get paid, and our fee comes from the recovery we obtain for you. This aligns our interests with yours—we’re motivated to get you the best possible result because our success depends on your success.
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