Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Manhattan Beach, NY
Stop Workplace Harassment. Protect Your Career.
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Manhattan Beach Sexual Harassment Attorney
When harassment stops, everything changes. You walk into work without that knot in your stomach. You focus on your job instead of watching your back. Your career gets back on track.
Most harassment victims never get help because they’re scared of retaliation or don’t know their rights. But here’s what happens when you have experienced legal representation: employers take notice, behavior changes, and you get compensated for what you’ve endured.
We’ve secured over $80 million for harassment victims. That’s not just money—it’s validation that what happened to you was wrong, and accountability for those who allowed it to continue.
Experienced Sexual Harassment Lawyers NY
For 20 years, John Howley defended Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Citibank, and Sony in their biggest lawsuits—including arguing in the U.S. Supreme Court. Now he uses that same expertise to fight for employees.
The difference is personal attention you’ll never get at a large firm. John meets with every client personally, handles strategic decisions himself, and appears in court for your case. No junior associates, no getting passed around.
We understand Manhattan Beach’s professional landscape. Whether you work for a major corporation, small business, or nonprofit, we know how to protect both your legal rights and your career reputation in this tight-knit community.
Sexual Harassment Case Process NY
First, we listen. You’ll meet directly with John Howley to discuss what happened, understand your legal options, and develop a strategy that protects your career. This consultation is free and completely confidential.
Next, we investigate and document everything. We gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build your case while you continue working. Most employers prefer to settle quietly rather than face public litigation.
If settlement negotiations don’t produce fair compensation, we’re prepared to take your case to trial. John has tried cases for over 30 years and isn’t afraid of the courtroom. Most cases settle once employers realize we’re serious about fighting.
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Sexual Misconduct Lawyer Manhattan Beach
Sexual harassment takes many forms: unwanted advances, quid pro quo demands, hostile work environments, and inappropriate touching. All are illegal under New York law, and all deserve compensation.
In Manhattan Beach’s competitive job market, harassment often goes unreported because victims fear career damage. We handle cases involving executives, healthcare workers, restaurant staff, and professionals across all industries—always with complete discretion.
You may be entitled to back pay, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. New York’s laws are among the strongest in the country, with no caps on damages and protection for smaller workplaces that federal law doesn’t cover.
What qualifies as sexual harassment under New York law?
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This covers quid pro quo harassment (where job benefits are tied to sexual favors) and hostile work environment harassment (where the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating workplace).
New York law is broader than federal law. Even a single incident can be actionable if severe enough, and the harassment doesn’t need to be directed at you—witnessing it can also create a hostile environment. Comments about your appearance, inappropriate jokes, unwanted touching, or sexual propositions all qualify.
How long do I have to file a sexual harassment claim?
In New York, you generally have three years to file a sexual harassment claim under state law, which is much longer than the federal deadline. However, if you want to file with the EEOC under federal law, you only have 300 days from the incident.
The sooner you act, the better. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and continuing to work in a hostile environment can damage your health and career. Even if you’re not sure you want to file a lawsuit, consulting with an attorney early helps preserve your options and ensures you don’t miss critical deadlines.
Will filing a harassment claim hurt my career?
Retaliation for filing a harassment claim is illegal under both federal and New York law. Employers who fire, demote, or otherwise punish employees for reporting harassment face additional liability. We’ve seen retaliation cases result in larger settlements than the original harassment claims.
Most harassment cases settle confidentially, meaning your employer agrees to resolve the matter without admitting wrongdoing and with non-disclosure agreements protecting your privacy. We work carefully to protect your reputation and career throughout the process, often negotiating positive references and career transition support as part of settlements.
How much does it cost to hire a sexual harassment lawyer?
Most sexual harassment cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we win your case. When we do win, our fee comes from the settlement or judgment—not from your pocket.
Additionally, New York law often requires employers to pay your attorney’s fees when you win a harassment case. This means the harasser’s employer, not you, ends up paying for your legal representation. We also advance all case costs, so you never pay out-of-pocket expenses during litigation.
What should I do if I'm being sexually harassed at work?
Document everything immediately. Keep records of inappropriate comments, emails, text messages, and witness information. Note dates, times, locations, and exactly what happened. This documentation becomes crucial evidence later.
Report the harassment to your employer following their policy, preferably in writing. While this might feel scary, it’s legally required in most cases and often stops the behavior. If your employer fails to investigate or take appropriate action, that becomes additional evidence of their liability.
Can I sue for sexual harassment if it happened outside the office?
Yes, sexual harassment at work-related events, client meetings, business trips, company parties, or anywhere work activities occur is still illegal. The harassment doesn’t need to happen in your physical office to violate the law.
This includes harassment by supervisors, coworkers, clients, customers, or vendors. If the harassment affects your work environment or employment, you have legal protections regardless of where it occurred. We’ve successfully handled cases involving harassment at conferences, business dinners, and even virtual meetings.
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