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University settles sexual misconduct allegations 

Published: February 13, 2012

Tags: Iowa, professor, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct

The University of Iowa has agreed to a financial settlement with a former student who was pressured to let a political science professor fondle her in exchange for a higher grade.

Store employee wins $95M sexual harassment verdict 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: January 17, 2012

Tags: assault, sexual harassment, Top Ten Jury Verdicts, Top Ten Jury Verdicts of 2011

An Illinois federal jury has awarded a $95 million verdict – including $80 million in punitive damages – to a store worker who claimed she was sexually harassed and assaulted by a manager while the company turned a blind eye.

“[The employer] had a policy that no one had to report complaints of sexual harassment unless they actually witnessed it,” said Benedict Morelli, the plaintiff’s lead counsel at trial. “It was a sexual harassment policy that protected the company, not the employees.”

2011 employment law news wrap-up 

Published: December 28, 2011

Tags: cat’s paw theory, E-verify, EEOC, employee misclassification, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, ERISA, fair labor standards act, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, sexual harassment, social media, social media policies

Employment law has been a hot practice area and 2011 did not disappoint. Here are some of the highlights of the past year’s most notable employment law stories:

Hospital patient wins $67.4M for nurse’s sexual assault 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: December 5, 2011

Tags: California, hospital, negligent retention, nurse, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment

A California jury has awarded $67.4 million to a woman who claimed that a male nurse sexually assaulted her following a surgical procedure.

Winning attorney Michael Piuze suggested in closing arguments that the jury award $10 million in punitive damages. It came back with $65 million.

$1.6 million in settlements reached in coroner sex harassment fiasco 

Published: November 4, 2011

Tags: Colorado, retaliation, sexual harassment

Adams County, Colo. officials have agreed to pay $650,000 to settle claims by a forensic pathologist who claimed former County Coroner James Hibbard retaliated against him for protesting sexual harassment of female employees — the last in a string of lawsuits over bad behavior in and out of the autopsy suite that’s cost taxpayers in excess of a million dollars.

Company settles sex harassment case for $463,000 

Published: October 17, 2011

Tags: California, sexual harassment

An Orange County, Calif. pool cleaning supply company will pay nearly $463,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a federal agency that found at least eight female employees had been sexually harassed.

Church can be sued for sexual discrimination 

Published: September 27, 2011

Tags: First Amendment, hostile work environment, sexual harassment

The First Amendment does not completely bar sexual discrimination claims brought against a church by a former ministerial employee, Maryland’s highest court has ruled.

State not liable for judge’s sexual harassment 

Published: September 9, 2011

Tags: Faragher/Ellerth, sexual harassment, Title VII, vicarious liability

A state is not liable under federal discrimination law for a judge’s alleged sexual harassment of a court employee, the 10th Circuit has ruled in affirming a summary judgment.

EEOC sues contractor for retaliation 

Published: September 7, 2011

Tags: EEOC, retaliation, sexual harassment, Virginia

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has accused Huntington Ingalls and a subcontractor of firing two male workers in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment.

Restaurant settles sexual harassment suit with EEOC 

Published: September 7, 2011

Tags: North Dakota, sexual harassment

A judge approved a $1 million settlement for 17 women who said they were sexually harassed by a manager at an Applebee’s restaurant, an agreement believed to be the largest of its kind in North Dakota history, a federal attorney said.