Posted: September 2, 2015
While teasing another employee or subordinate in the workplace isn’t illegal, incidents that involve harassing personnel or an applicant because of that person’s sex is against the law. This may encompass sexual harassment or unsolicited advances, requests for favors, and other physical or verbal provocation of a sexual nature.
Despite legislation against this unlawful form of employee discrimination, reports of sexual harassment continue to make headlines across New Jersey, including a high-profile case that has led to charges filed against Dumont’s Dr. Raja Jagtiani, who runs an emergent care practice in Bergenfield.
At Eisbrouch Marsh, we understand the challenges of pursuing a sexual harassment case, but we also know that victims have the law on their side. If you have been sexually assaulted or victimized by sexist behavior in the workplace and feel there is no place to turn, we invite you to speak with a sexual harassment lawyer New Jersey has come to trust.
Our veteran civil rights attorneys are staunch advocates and have decades of litigation experience in discrimination and harassment claims throughout Essex, Passaic, Morris and Bergen County, and beyond.
Accusations of sexual misconduct, harassment in NJ
According to alarming accusations leveled by a former employee of Dr. Raja Jagtiani, the doctor touched her breast and bit her face while she worked for him. During their investigation into the allegations, Bergenfield police say they were also approached by three other women who claim the 54-year-old primary care physician made inappropriate sexual advances with them as well. One was a former patient, while the other two women had been employed by Dr. Jagtiani.
Last week, ABC New York reported that Dr. Jagtiani has since been arrested and charged with five counts of criminal sexual contact, three counts of harassment by offensive touching and one charge of simple assault. The Bergenfield doctor was forced to surrender his passport while in custody, and bail was set at $10,000.
In a separate incident, federal officials are investigating claims of theft and sexual harassment at the New Jersey National Guard’s field maintenance shop in Morris County. A spokesperson for the National Guard, Patrick Daugherty, says that four federal staff members reported misconduct to their superiors last month, sparking an investigation that is currently in the fact-finding phase. No civil or criminal charges have been brought thus far. Meanwhile the shop has been temporarily shut down and the employees transferred to another post.
And while most people think only women are on the receiving end of unwanted sexual advances, female authority figures have also been charged with sexual harassment on the job. This past July, a female Somerset County Sheriff’s officer was suspended (with pay) for allegedly sexually harassing male officers. Officer Amy Alfano denies the allegations brought by her male colleagues, who said she often made unwelcome comments about her preferences in bed and male genitalia size, in addition to inappropriately grabbing a fellow officer’s penis.
After a lengthy investigation into the veteran officer’s conduct, which included some 36 purported violations, Alfano was suspended.
Help filing a NJ sexual harassment lawsuit
Sexual harassment includes much more than physical groping or offers of promotion based on sexual favors. Offensive comments, sexual jokes, email communications of an erotic nature and the display of nude or pornographic photos may also form the basis for a sexual harassment lawsuit in New Jersey.
If you have been subject to sexual harassment while on the job, you may be entitled to monetary damages in a civil action against your harasser and employer. Contact Eisbrouch Marsh at 201-342-5545 to discuss your case during a free and confidential legal consultation.
Resources
- NJ.com, Sexual harassment, theft alleged at N.J. National Guard maintenance shop http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/08/sexual_harassment_theft_alleged_at_picatinny_arsen.html
- NJ.com, Female sheriff's officer accused of sexual harassment wants public hearing http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2015/08/female_sheriffs_officer_accused_of_sexual_harassme.html
- ABC New York, BERGENFIELD DOCTOR ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING EMPLOYEES, PATIENT http://abc7ny.com/news/bergenfield-doctor-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-employees-patient/959014/
