Real Life Story of Sexual Harassment

Kathleen, Regional Supervisor - California

Kathleen was hired as a manager trainee at a shoe store. During a span of about five years, she was first promoted to manager and then regional supervisor. Robert, a company administrator, was Kathleen's supervisor. Soon after Kathleen's promotion, Robert began sexually harassing her. Robert "would come up from behind and put both his hands on her breast. He would pinch her buttocks as he walked by. He grabbed her crotch and asked 'if [she] was wet.' He made other graphic inquiries such as: 'what kind of lingerie [she] was wearing underneath her clothes,' 'how was [her] pussy,' 'if [she] got any last night,' 'if [she] took it in the ass,' 'if [she] swallowed,' and 'if [she] gave head.'" This pattern of conduct went on for three years. Kathleen repeatedly reported these incidents to upper management, but her employer claimed that there was nothing it could do. She sued her supervisor and employer for sexual harassment. The jury decided in Kathleen's favor awarding her $125,000 in damages and $103,000 in attorney's fees.

Kelly-Zurian v. Wohl Shoe Co., 22 Cal. App. 4th 397 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. 1994)