Sexual Harassment and the Law

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Sexual Harassment and the law |

Overview: Ross V. Double Diamond |

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Ashley Bates |

HRMN 408 |

Professor Ellis

October 2011

UMUC

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Case Name: Ross v. Double Diamond, Inc. 672 F Supp. 261 (N.D. Tex. 1987) (Bennett-Alexander 445-446).

Synopsis of Facts: Beverly Ross and Sheila Stroudenmire are sisters that have filed a prima fascia case against their former employer, Double Diamond, Inc. and Larry Womack for violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Beverly Ross claims her boss; Womack created a hostile work environment in the form of severe sexual harassment, and office humiliation. Ross and Stroudenmire claim to have been discharged because they reported the sexual harassment.

Issue presented for the court to decide: The issue to be established is that Double Diamond, Inc. and Larry Womack were in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ross and Stroudenmire must be able to establish that a hostile work environment was present and that there were no reasonable grounds for termination.

Holding: “The court held that the acts and communications perpetrated against Ross at Double Diamond are sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of Ross’s employment and create an abusive work environment. Courts found judgment for Ross only” (Bennett-Alexander and Harman 446).

Identify the Law: Ross and Stroudenmire asserted sexual harassment violation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Which states in part,

"an unlawful employment practice for an employer . . . to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U.S.C. ? 2000e-2(a) (1).

In order to determine whether a hostile work environment existed in this case the court considered four factors these include the “nature of the unwelcome sexual harassment, the frequency of the harassing...