Be brave. It is not easy to go up against employers, their insurers and their attorneys. The opposition typically tries to discourage claimants by raising issues with the intent to embarrass or degrade the employee. Sometimes, such attempts backfire on the employers, but in the meantime it can be a difficult experience for the employee claimant.
Be strong. The claimant must be strong and determined. In order to be successful, a claimant should help his or her attorney to get the best results. Claimants have to provide information to their attorneys, they have to testify during discovery, and if the case is not settled, they have to testify at trial. The process can be time consuming, so it is important for claimants to be prepared to press forward with their attorney for the best results.
This advice is not meant to discourage any victim of unlawful sexual harassment from filing a lawsuit, but is instead meant to prepare a victim for the realities of moving forward with a suit. Not only can a successful claimant be rewarded monetarily with damages, but also can attain the personal satisfaction of standing up for oneself, overcoming adversity, and showing that sexual harassers must pay for abusing their power.
Too many victims suffer in silence. By stepping forward with a lawsuit, a victim is not only standing up for him or herself, but the victim is also fighting for the greater cause of helping to put an end to sexual harassment in the workplace. The legal system, by holding harassers and employers accountable for their misconduct, is a crucial part of the fight against the injustice of sexual harassment.
If after reading this book you believe that you have a viable claim for workplace harassment, discrimination or retaliation, feel empowered with the knowledge that you are not alone and that a sexual harassment attorney can work with you to redress the problems you have faced, and to move on with strength and courage.
