Davida Perry and Brian Heller, attorneys at Schwartz Perry & Heller LLP, obtained a $1.33 million verdict against UPS in a sexual harassment case this week. (Rivera v. UPS).
Our client, a mother of five children, started working at UPS in 2001 at an entry level position. She was promoted several times and loved her job. In 2005, she told her lead supervisor that she was having marital problems, and he began making advances toward her. She rejected him, and then he began making crude vulgar remarks to her in front of her co-workers.He showed up at her house one night at 2am with a pizza and was so drunk he passed out on her couch.
Our client complained to a manager about her behavior, and the next day she was assigned to a less desirable location. Then rumors started to fly about her have sex with various drivers. She complained to HR about the rumors, but no investigation or follow-up took place. She was then transferred to another district, and then five months later she was fired for two bogus reasons: breaching security and falsifying documents.
After a seven week trial in the Bronx, a jury found for our client, and awarded her $1,000,030 in compensatory damages, and $300,000 in punitive damages.
The takeaway: Don't put up with sexual harassment in your workplace. By fighting back, you not only make yourself whole again, but you also send a message to large companies with deep pockets that this kind of behavior cannot and should not be tolerated. They will get the message.
If you have been harassed or discriminated against at work, call the attorneys at Schwartz Perry & Heller LLP.