Benefits of Legal Funding in Sexual Harassment Cases

Whitney Taylor | November 22nd, 2016

Lawyer with Clients3Recent sexual harassment lawsuits against notable names like Roger Ailes have brought this issue into a whole new light. The issue of sexual harassment is unfortunately all too common today, but the good news is protection under federal law allows for legal recourse when you are the victim of such action.

As you work through the appropriate legal channels, lawsuit funding may also be available to provide financial relief until a settlement or jury award is decided.

What constitutes sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment can be loosely defined as any offensive behavior of a sexual nature, including unwanted advances or requests for sexual favors. The behavior may interfere with a person’s ability to do their job or create a hostile work environment. The person responsible for the harassment may be male or female and the harassment does not have to take place between two people of the opposite sex.

Sexual harassment is a common problem that may affect as many as one in three women between the ages of 18 and 34, according to a 2015 survey conducted by Cosmopolitan. The survey involved 2,235 women working full or part-time. Unfortunately, the majority of women in the survey allowed the harassment to continue, with only 29 percent reporting the issue. Women may be afraid they will not get promoted or even lose their jobs if they go public with their complaint.

What the law says

Harassment is a type of sex discrimination that is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This federal law prohibits any employer with 15 or more employees from discriminating against an employee based on sex, race, color, national origin or religion. The law also applies to labor organizations, employment agencies and the federal government.

Seeking legal action

When an employee is a victim of sexual harassment, the first step is to present the issue to a supervisor. While the complaint may be verbal, written complaints tend to carry more weight, particularly if the matter must proceed beyond the employer. If the harassment is not resolved at this level, a formal complaint may be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEOC may begin the process by attempting to negotiate a settlement between the employer and employee. If a settlement is not agreed upon, the EEOC may choose to file a lawsuit against the employer or dismiss the case entirely. When a case is dismissed, the EEOC will notify the victim of the harassment of their right to file their complaint in court. At this point, the legal process will determine whether the employer is liable for the harassment and make a judgement accordingly.

Getting financial help

The legal system offers fair recourse for sexual harassment victims who cannot reach an agreement with the responsible employer. However, lawsuits tend to take time, which can put a financial hardship on plaintiffs waiting for their day in court. Finances may be particularly strained if the victim left their job because of the harassment or was fired after reporting the problem.

In these situations, legal funding can help plaintiffs wait out the legal process without sacrificing their financial standing. These non-recourse loans are issued based on the amount of a settlement or jury award a plaintiff is expected to receive. However, they can be provided at the beginning of the legal process, before the lack of income or other expenses become a burden to the plaintiff. If there is no settlement or jury award at the end of the process, the amount of the loan does not have to be repaid.

LawStreet Capital offers pre settlement lawsuit funding at some of the industry’s best rates. Our application process is fast and free and once approval is granted, funds can be wired into your checking account within 24 hours. No payments are due until your case is settled or decided in court. To learn more about the benefits of lawsuit loans, contact LawStreet Capital today at 1-888-560-3717.