Oxnard & Ventura Personal Injury Attorneys
Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Attorney

Serving Oxnard & Ventura

Our ability to feel safe in our workplaces should be a given. Unfortunately, many employees find themselves victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. These situations affect employee productivity, mental and physical health and can have legal consequences for both the harasser and the employer. If you are being subjected to unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments or harassment based on your gender, you may be eligible to bring a sexual harassment claim. At The Schurmer Firm we regularly represent victims of sexual harassment and are here to help you stop the harassment and obtain the compensation you deserve.

What is Sexual Harassment?

The term “sexual harassment” often gets tossed around lightly, but sexual harassment should be taken seriously. Taking sexual harassment seriously often starts with understanding what is and what is not sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment isn’t a single inappropriate comment from a co-worker at the office holiday party or a creepy glance from a customer. Sexual harassment typically involves unwelcome sexual advances, which can be either verbal or physical. This behavior can sometimes be overt and obvious, such as unwelcome touching and obscene remarks or suggestions, or even more subtle behavior like inappropriate glaring or staring. Sexual harassment may also be disparaging or offensive comments about a person’s sex. The conduct does not have to occur between opposite genders to be sexual harassment.

Illegal Conduct

You may be surprised to learn that the first advance, inappropriate comment or unwanted touch is not considered illegal sexual harassment. While the conduct may be actionable as either assault and/or battery, it does not become sexual harassment unless:

  • The victim tells the harasser to stop and
  • The victim cannot leave without suffering a tangible hardship

In employment situations it is enough to simply ask the harasser to stop because walking away from a job poses a very specific hardship, the loss of one’s income. Working with an experienced sexual harassment attorney can help you determine whether or not your co-worker’s conduct is illegal and what your options are to remove yourself from the situation.

Hostile Work Environment

Many times this behavior creates a hostile work environment that interferes with a person’s ability to work effectively. The work atmosphere can become intimidating, hostile or offensive. Stopping the conduct before it happens is the employer’s responsibility. In fact, the state of California requires employers to take necessary steps to prevent sexual harassment in the work environment. This includes:

  • Instituting the appropriate training;
  • Creating policies to prevent sexual harassment;
  • Developing procedures for reporting harassment; and
  • Creating protocols for responding to complaints.

Employers are also responsible for ensuring the necessary intervention occurs once a claim has been made or once the behavior was—or should have been—discovered.

Failing to respond to a report of sexual harassment or failing to discover harassment can expose an employer to civil liability. It may also expose the employer to administrative action under state or federal law.

Damages

Damages or financial compensation in sexual harassment cases come in a number of different forms. Victims may be entitled to compensatory damages including:

  • loss of earnings and wages,
  • loss of employment ability,
  • medical expenses,
  • emotional distress and
  • pain and suffering damages

Pain and suffering —often called general damages—are typically a large component of the ultimate settlement or verdict. In certain cases where the conduct is particularly egregious and can be shown to be outrageous or malicious, clients may be entitled to punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the offender. In these situations a victim may even be able to recover the cost of attorney’s fees.

Time Limits

The time limits or statute of limitations that applies to sexual harassment claims is often different than other types of civil cases. As a result, it is important to seek legal counsel at the first opportunity.

The Schurmer Firm has the necessary experience and knowledge to obtain the best results for our clients in these types of cases. We regularly work with victims of both genders and can help you understand your rights. We offer free, no obligation consultations to clients who may be considering a sexual harassment claim and handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we do not receive payment for our services until we reach a successful verdict or settlement on your behalf.

We encourage you to pick up the phone or send us an email to discuss your case and see how we can help you stop the harassment and enjoy your workplace again.

Our Videos

The Schurmer Firm

Our firm's personal promise and commitment to you is to make sure that we care about you as a person. Every client who has been injured deserves the proper representation and our goal at The Schurmer Firm is to ensure that they get that.

Hear From Our Clients

  • He is a very good attorney!

    “I have met with Earl on a number of occasions and he has always been very professional. He is a very good attorney.”

    - Brett H.
  • I want to thank all the staff at this firm!

    “I was hurt in a car accident and thanks to this firm I got the medical help I needed to return to work and put my life back together. I felt protected and was always in the loop with all the big ...”

    - Sergio B.
  • They take the time to understand your case and really care.

    “Mr. Schurmer and his staff are the best. They take the time to understand your case and really care.”

    - Dan A.
  • Trustworthy, hard-working and incredibly intelligent!

    “Earl is one of the best attorneys I have ever met. He is trustworthy, hard-working and incredibly intelligent. I highly recommend his firm!”

    - Eunice C.
  • They made me feel like my case was their number one priority.

    “From the first contact with the office staff to meeting with Lauren Wood and Earl Schurmer to go over details of my accident, I was immediately impressed with the knowledge, care, and follow up regarding my case.”

    - Scott C.

Decades of Experience

Millions of Dollars Recovered
  • $3 Million Car Accident

    A wrongful death settlement for the young daughter of a woman who was tragically killed as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

  • $3 Million Wrongful Death

    Settlement for the wife and children of a man who died when the defendant ran a red light and struck the driver’s side door.

  • $1 Million Verdict

    A man who was killed when struck by a train at an unmarked railroad crossing.

  • $850,000 $850,000 Settlement

    Settlement for the wrongful death of a 14-year-old girl who died when she was stuck after an electric gate automatically closed wedging her between the gate and the pillar of the gate.

  • $725,000 Flash Fire that Eruption

    Settlement against a homeowner and plumbing contractor when a father was killed due to a flash fire that erupted from the defendant’s gas water heater.

/

What Sets Us Apart?

The Right Attorney Makes All the Difference
  • We Specialize in Auto Cases
  • We are Available 24/7
  • We Offer Free Consultations
  • We Can Help with Medical Care
  • Contingency Fees Only. We Advance All Costs and You Do Not Pay Any Fees Unless We Win

Get Your Free Initial Consultation

Call 805-470-1628 or email us today.
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.