How Much Can I Get for My Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

For individuals who have faced sexual harassment at work, you may be entitled to compensation that you can seek through a sexual harassment lawsuit.

As with many legal proceedings, sexual harassment lawsuits can raise a ton of questions. And a big question for individuals who may be looking to file a sexual harassment lawsuit is how much compensation you may get for your lawsuit once it is filed.

Below, we take a look at what factors typically determine the average settlement for sexual harassment lawsuits and what steps you can take to

Disclaimer: The following is not legal advice; it is general information meant to inform. Consult with a sexual harassment lawyer for advice and guidance on your case.

What is the Average Settlement for Sexual Harassment?

Right off the bat it is important to note that there is really no way to determine an average settlement for sexual harassment lawsuits. Each individual case will be determined based on each lawsuit’s unique factors.

Factors that are considered in a lawsuit may include:

• The kind of harassment you have suffered
• The severity of the harassment
• The length of time the harassment occurred
• If the harassment was quid pro quo (where the harasser manipulates the victim into performing sexual acts and other unwanted acts) or if it created hostile work environment (where the workplace has become a general environment of abuse and harassment)

These factors may tie into the settlement amount that you receive following your lawsuit.

What Kind of Damages Can I Expect to Receive?

There are a number of different damages that you may receive as part of your lawsuit settlement including:

1. Back pay: this will consist of any wages and benefits that you would have received following any sort of demotion or firing you received in relation to the harassment you have faced. Back pay covers:
   1. Lost income, including any raises you would have received
   2. Bonuses
   3. Sick and vacation leave
   4. Stock options and 401ks
   5. Insurance benefits for health, vision, and dental
   6. Retirement
2. Front pay:this is meant to compensate you for any lost income that you are likely to be left with following the date of your settlement.
3. Compensatory damages: these damages cover things such as back and front pay, emotional distress that you suffered, and other out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred due to the harassment.
4. Punitive damages: these may be awarded if your employer knew about the harassment and didn’t take steps to stop it.

Something important to keep in mind here is that you may not receive all of these damages in your sexual harassment compensation. Much as the overall amount will depend on certain factors, so will the type of damages that are relevant to your claim.

Are There Limits on the Average Settlement for Sexual Harassment?

There is a limit on the amount of financial damages that you may receive for a sexual harassment lawsuit, based on the size of your employer.

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the amount of compensatory damages are capped at the following:

• For employers with 15-100 employees, the limit is $50,000.
• For employers with 101-200 employees, the limit is $100,000.
• For employers with 201-500 employees, the limit is $200,000.
• For employers with more than 500 employees, the limit is $300,000.

So, depending on the size of your employer, you may see a cap amount applied to your settlement.

And depending on your state’s laws, there may be a different cap amount that applies to your case as well.

If you are dealing with sexual harassment at work, consider reaching out to experienced sexual harassment lawsuit lawyers for further questions you may have.

The Friedmann Firm LLC is an employment law firm based in Columbus, Ohio. Their dedicated team of sexual harassment lawsuit lawyers work with clients in a wide array of industries to protect their rights in the workplace. They bring years of experience to the table and a deep understanding of both state and federal laws. The Friedmann Legal team regularly represents individuals who have faced sexual harassment in the workplace, and they are dedicated to helping them understand their rights and protections. You can connect with them online or over the phone for a consultation.