Lawsuits are very difficult to predict. For this reason, many cases settle before they are decided by a court. No one can guaranty what will happen in your case or any other. If you lose your case, the court may order you to pay the costs incurred by your former employer in defending against your lawsuit. This can include filing fees, deposition expenses, photocopy costs, courier service expenses and even expert witness fees in some instances. If a court decides that your case was baseless and brought in bad faith, the court could order you to pay the attorney’s fees incurred by your former employer in defending against your lawsuit. This could be an award of hundreds of thousands of dollars against you and it may not be dischargeable in bankruptcy.
Not only is sexual harassment illegal. The law also prohibits:
- Racial harassment
- Religious harassment
- Age-based harassment
- Harassment based on disability
- Harassment based on ethnicity or national origin
- Retaliation
Most people are familiar with workplace sexual harassment claims. Harassment in professional, business, and educational relationships are also illegal.