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Woman Awarded $125,000 in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A Ukrainian woman has been awarded $125,000 in a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former employer who also happened to be a former romantic interest. In 2005, the woman Alla Sazonova, met Clifford Crane on a dating website. She moved from the Ukraine to the United States on a work visa, and began working for Crane’s companies, including Security Marketing Concepts and Apollo Security Sales. The two then began an on-again off-again relationship.

In April 2009, they stayed at a hotel where Crane pressured Sazonova to have sex with him. She refused. A few days later, Crane sent a letter to US officials informing them that Sazonova’s employment had been terminated, and recommending that her work visa canceled.

Sazonova filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging that the termination was a direct result of her refusal to sleep with Crane. Lawyers for Crane alleged that the reason for the termination had nothing to do with their romantic relationship, but with the economic situation of the company. A jury has now found in favor of Sazonova, and has awarded her $125,000 for her losses.

Often, California sexual harassment lawyers come across cases where the harassment is not in physical in nature. Sexual harassment in the workplace does not have to include groping, patting or leering. If you have been in a situation where you're constantly being asked out by your employer or superior at work, or are being subjected to sexually inappropriate comments, you may have grounds for a sexual harassment claim. In fact, bawdy jokes can constitute harassment if these make you feel uncomfortable and unable to concentrate on your work. Besides, if you're been in a situation where other persons in the workplace have been spreading rumors about your sexual life or you have been threatened with dire consequences unless you have sex with co-workers or superiors, this could constitute harassment too.

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