The Honorable Judge Charles R. Norgle issued an opinion in a sexual harassment case brought by one of our clients in federal court. In that case, our client who was employment by Austin Bank of Chicago sued for sexual harassment, claiming that she was sexually harassed by her branch manager which consisted of offensive language and unwanted comments and touching.

Following discovery, Austin Bank asked to court for a ruling on summary judgment. In the motion, Austin Bank argued that our client’s case should be dismissed and she should be denied a jury trial on the basis that she could not win in front of a jury. Austin Bank’s attorneys argued that the Bank took immediate action by terminating the alleged harasser once after HR became aware of the incident. We argued that our client had complained much earlier but her immediate supervisor took to no action to stop the harassment and it continued. The court agreed with us and denied Defendant’s motion to dismiss.

In handing our client that decisive summary judgment win, the judge acknowledged that a complete failure by Austin Bank to respond sexual harassment complaints for almost 4 months simply cannot be viewed as a reasonable to prevent further harassment. The judge went on to award our client a jury trial where she can seek compensatory, punitive and mental anguish damages in front of a jury. The jury trial is set to occur in June 2009.
 Read the entire sexual harassment decision....]