The Wick Law Office recently obtained an award well in excess of half a million dollars for a client who was subjected to ongoing harassment because of her sex. Our client’s coworker subjected her to unwelcome contact in an effort to rekindle a prior consensual romantic relationship. Although she made clear to him that she did not want him to contact her any longer, he was relentless, contacting her over 2,000 times during an approximately two-year time period. Although she repeatedly reported the harassment to her management chain and the VA’s human resources office, they refused to take her complaints seriously, at one time even assigning the harasser as her acting supervisor.

At the conclusion of a 3-day hearing with 10 witnesses, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Administrative Judge (AJ) issued a decision finding fully in our client’s favor. The AJ also awarded all of the remedies requested, including the statutory maximum of $300,000 in non-pecuniary damages, reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs and back pay associated with our client’s relocation to escape the harassment, in addition to reimbursement of costs our client incurred for therapy, prescription medications, and related mileage expenses. In terms of non-monetary damages, the AJ awarded our client reimbursement of leave and 8 hours of training for the involved management and human resources officials. He also ordered the VA to reimburse attorneys’ fees and costs our client incurred in bringing the case.

Each situation is different. If you believe you may have experienced discrimination or harassment in the workplace, the attorneys of The Wick Law Office may be able to help.