Retaliation Case Produces Significant Verdict
A federal jury recently awarded a Middle School Teacher on Long Island five million dollars after she was fired for making a complaint of sexual harassment against the school's principal, according to an article in the May 7, 2009 edition of New York Newsday.
The teacher claimed the principal had used sexist language in her presence and after her complaints were made, the principal would bet other staff members whether he would be able to "make her cry." In addition to the award to the teacher, her husband was also awarded $250,000 as compensation for his wife's emotional pain and suffering.
This case illustrates that retaliation in the workplace is often times more severe than the underlying discrimination. Judges and juries regularly believe that organizations should "know better" that once someone complains about discrimination they deserve protection, not retaliation.
