Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Prospect Heights, NY
Get Justice for Workplace Sexual Harassment
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Prospect Heights Sexual Harassment Attorney
Sexual harassment doesn’t just hurt your feelings—it damages your career, your income, and your mental health. You deserve compensation that reflects the full scope of what you’ve lost.
We’ve secured millions in settlements for harassment victims across New York. Our clients get back pay, emotional distress damages, and punitive awards that send a message. One recent case resulted in a $1 million settlement for a live-in nanny who faced ongoing sexual harassment from her employer.
The money matters, but so does accountability. When we take your case, harassers and the companies that protect them learn there are real consequences for their actions.
Experienced Sexual Harassment Lawyers
For over 30 years, John Howley has represented harassment victims with the same aggressive advocacy that major corporations receive. He’s argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and won an $80 million discrimination class action—one of the largest in history.
Before founding The Howley Law Firm, John spent 20 years as a partner at a major corporate law firm representing companies like Pfizer, Texaco, and Citibank. Now we use that insider knowledge to level the playing field for employees in Prospect Heights, NY and throughout the region.
You get recognized expertise—John has received the Medal for Excellence in Advocacy from the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Thurgood Marshall Award from the New York City Bar Association.
Sexual Harassment Case Process
Your case starts with a confidential consultation where we review what happened and explain your legal options. There’s no charge for this meeting, and everything you tell us stays protected by attorney-client privilege.
If we take your case, we immediately begin investigating and preserving evidence. This includes documenting the harassment, identifying witnesses, and reviewing company policies. We also work to protect you from retaliation while your case moves forward.
Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to court. Employers take you more seriously when they know your lawyer has a track record of winning at trial. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you—our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, not your pocket.
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New York Sexual Harassment Laws
New York offers some of the strongest sexual harassment protections in the country. Unlike federal law, you don’t need to prove the harassment was “severe or pervasive”—any unwelcome conduct that exceeds a “petty slight” can be actionable under New York City Human Rights Law.
In Prospect Heights, NY, you have up to three years to file a sexual harassment claim, much longer than the 300 days allowed under federal law. This extended timeline gives you breathing room to document your case and find the right legal representation.
New York law also covers more people than federal law. Whether you’re a traditional employee, contractor, intern, or gig worker, you’re likely protected. The law even covers harassment by customers, clients, and other third parties if your employer fails to take appropriate action.
What counts 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. It also covers harassment based on your sex, even if it’s not explicitly sexual.
Under New York law, the behavior doesn’t need to be severe or pervasive like it does under federal law. Even a single incident can be harassment if it’s more than a “petty slight” or “trivial inconvenience.” This includes inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, sexual jokes, displaying pornographic materials, or quid pro quo situations where job benefits are tied to sexual favors.
The harassment can come from supervisors, coworkers, customers, clients, or anyone else you encounter in your work environment. What matters is that the conduct is unwelcome and creates an uncomfortable or hostile work atmosphere.
How long do I have to file a sexual harassment claim?
In New York, you generally have up to three years to file a sexual harassment claim under state and city human rights laws. This is much longer than the 300 days you have to file with the federal EEOC.
However, there are some exceptions and nuances to these deadlines. For example, if you’re a government employee, different rules may apply. Some types of claims may have shorter deadlines, and the clock can sometimes pause or restart depending on ongoing harassment or company investigations.
Don’t wait to get legal advice, even if you think you have plenty of time. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and company policies can change. The sooner you speak with an experienced sexual harassment lawyer, the stronger your case will be.
Can I be fired for reporting sexual harassment?
No, it’s illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for reporting sexual harassment or participating in a harassment investigation. Retaliation can include firing, demotion, reduced hours, hostile treatment, or any other negative employment action.
New York’s anti-retaliation laws are broad and protective. You’re covered even if your harassment complaint turns out to be unfounded, as long as you made it in good faith. The law also protects you if you witness harassment and report it, or if you support a coworker who’s filing a complaint.
If you face retaliation, that’s a separate legal violation that can result in additional damages. Many harassment cases actually become stronger retaliation cases because retaliation is often easier to prove than the underlying harassment. Document any negative treatment you receive after making a complaint.
What kind of compensation can I get for sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment victims in New York can recover several types of damages, including back pay, front pay, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages. The amount depends on factors like the severity of harassment, its impact on your career, and your employer’s response.
Economic damages cover lost wages, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. If harassment forced you to quit, change jobs, or take medical leave, you can recover those lost earnings. Emotional distress damages compensate you for the psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive damages are designed to punish particularly egregious conduct and deter future harassment. New York courts have awarded punitive damages in cases involving supervisory harassment, company cover-ups, or patterns of discrimination. Attorney’s fees are also recoverable in successful cases, meaning your employer pays your legal costs on top of damages.
Do I need to report harassment to HR before filing a lawsuit?
While you’re not legally required to report harassment to HR before filing a lawsuit, doing so can strengthen your case and is generally recommended. Reporting creates a paper trail and gives your employer a chance to address the problem.
However, there are situations where internal reporting might not make sense. If HR is involved in the harassment, if you’ve seen the company retaliate against other complainants, or if you reasonably believe reporting would make things worse, you may want to consult with a lawyer first.
When you do report internally, put your complaint in writing, keep copies of everything, and document the company’s response. If the harassment continues or you face retaliation, this documentation becomes crucial evidence. Remember, your employer’s failure to properly investigate or address harassment can increase their legal liability.
How much does it cost to hire a sexual harassment lawyer?
At The Howley Law Firm, we handle sexual harassment cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our fee comes from any settlement or court award we recover for you.
This arrangement allows harassment victims to get experienced legal representation without upfront costs. You don’t need to worry about hourly billing or paying legal fees while you’re already dealing with the financial and emotional impact of harassment.
If we recover money for you, our fee is a percentage of that recovery. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing for attorney’s fees. There may be some case expenses like filing fees or expert witness costs, but we discuss all potential costs upfront so there are no surprises.
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