Looking for Maryland sexual harassment lawyers? This might help

Maryland has one of the most comprehensive laws against sexual harassment in the US, yet this did not seem to be enough to stop a state court judge from breaking the law he was supposed to upheld. In May 2021, a former jury commissioner and law librarian filed a bombshell complaint accusing Garrett County Circuit Court Judge Raymond G. Strubin of forcing her to have sex with him in court chambers. When the woman, who was undergoing breast cancer therapy at the time, refused to provide any more sexual favors, Strubin threatened to fire her and destroy “everyone she knew”.

Should such a case deter you from taking action if you are subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace? Not in the least. On the contrary, you should talk to a lawyer and see what are your rights. The Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act, updated in 2019, clearly prohibits workplace discrimination based on sex, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity and it applies to all businesses in the state, public or private, no matter the size.

Experienced sexual harassment lawyers are quite happy with the way the Act was updated, as an employer is now liable for the harassment committed by an employee’s supervisor or if the negligence of the employer led to the harassment or continuation of the harassment. Under Maryland law, employers are required to have strong anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies in place and to provide regular training to their employees and supervisors. Also, companies are required to have a clear procedure employees can follow when filing an internal complaint.

According to highly-skilled employment lawyers, this makes it much easier to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. As an employee who is subjected to sexual harassment, you should consult your handbook and use the complaint procedure. If you were not issued such a handbook and there’s no one to complain to within the company, this is an oversight that might cost your employer dearly in a court of law.

However, if you are aware of the procedure to follow when you have a complaint, all Maryland sexual harassment lawyers will encourage you to notify your employer of the problems you are faced with. The employer is required to investigate every complaint and take steps to put an end to any sort of sexual harassment.

If your employer fails to take any action, your attorney will assist you in filing a complaint with the Maryland Civil Rights Commission, which has the power to investigate and mediate such work disputes. Depending on the severity of your accusations, a lot of money might be at stake. It is to be expected that your employer will come with a strong defense team, which is why it’s imperative you bring your own attorneys to the negotiations.

If you were forced to quit your job because you could not put up with that hostile work environment anymore, you are entitled to be compensated for lost wages. You can also be awarded punitive damages for all your suffering, and the settlement should also cover your legal fees.