October 11th, 2011
Posted in Roanoke, VA – A former Virginia Tech employee has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit with her supervisor.
The victim, Getra Hanes, alleged her supervisor considered a five-day training session to be “an extended date.” Hanes, who worked as a fundraiser for the university, will receive $60,00in the settlement. Hanes also has another lawsuit pending against Tech. That lawsuit also involves Shana Maron, another employee of the Office of University Development. The women claim they were paid less than their male co-workers because of the fact that they are women.
A jury in April found that Tech did in fact discriminate against the women based on their gender. Maron was awarded $86,000 in the settlement and Hanes $15,000. But Judge James Turk later threw out the verdict, saying the evidence during a four-day trial favored Tech’s explanation that it paid fundraisers on the basis of experience, not gender.
A second trial is scheduled for January. In the sexual harassment lawsuit, Hanes accuses her former supervisor, Robert Bailey Jr., of making repeated sexual comments to her during a five-day training trip to Maryland in 2007. Hanes also claims that Bailey held her to different professional standards than = male employees, and fired her when she complained about the sexual harassment.
Hanes claims that while on the way to the training session, Bailey told her that he was uncomfortable travelling with a young attractive woman and then asked her if she was dating anyone. Larry Hincker, a spokesman for Tech, said the school has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The settlement was made in the interest of both parties to avoid any further time being lost or any other expenses by avoiding further time and expense.
Sexual harassment can be anything from a lewd comment someone overhears at work to serious physical sexual attacks. Regardless of how mild or severe the incident, sexual harassment is not allowed at the workplace and victims have rights to seek legal help. If you or someone you know have been victimized, seek the help of a top sexual harassment lawyer right away to fight for your rights.
No one should have to suffer in a hostile work environment, but the sad truth is that many victims do not come forward out of fear that the perpetrator will retaliate or out of embarrassment. Unfortunately, sexual harassment offenders rarely ever cease their behavior on their own accord. Sexual harassment lawyers make it their mission to step in and ensure that the harasser is stopped and never causes harm to another person again. With the help of a sexual harassment attorney, the perpetrator will be held accountable for their actions.
Sexual harassment victims may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering. Your sexual harassment lawyer will see to it that you receive the full spectrum of benefits for what you have endured. If you or someone you know has suffered any form of sexual harassment, turn to a leading team of sexual harassment attorneys immediately to fight for your rights and file a claim.
Tags: April, Attractive Woman, Co Workers, Fundraiser, Fundraisers, Hanes, James Turk, Judge James, Professional Standards, Roanoke Va, Roanoke Virginia, Robert Bailey, Sexual Attacks, Sexual Comments, Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Spokesman, Supervisor, Training Session, Virginia Tech, Wrongdoing
It has to be difficult to prove discrimination of being paid less because you are a women. I don’t know if I agree with that one.
Oh jeez…
I think millions of people are being harassed all over the world..