This week a New York jury awarded Anucha Brown Sanders $11.6 Million in her sexual harassment case involving the New York Knicks Coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden. The jury found that she had been sexually harassed, as well as wrongfully terminated in response to her complaints. Both Thomas and MSG plan to appeal the ruling.
A Fox news article stated:
"A verdict earlier Tuesday found that Knicks coach Isiah Thomas had sexually harassed Browne Sanders, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also said he does not have to pay punitive damages.

But the jury did find that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and decided that she is entitled to punitive damages from MSG.

The jury found that the Garden owes $6 million for allowing a hostile work environment to exist and $2.6 million for retaliation. MSG chairman James Dolan owes $3 million."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298933,00.html

How can an employer protect themselves against claims of harassment and retaliation?

• Ensure that your organization has set policies and procedures for investigating claims, and handling the employees involved.
• Investigate each complaint thoroughly, and fairly.
• Once you come to a conclusion, report your conclusion in a standard format, stating the policies and/or laws involved, the evidence gathered, and whether the allegations have been substantiated.
• Respond in a timely manner to the complainant
• Do not retaliate!

Council offers several training programs on conducting internal investigations, to help you along in the process. Check them out on our main website: www.counciloned.com.