06/15/2011 // WPB, FL, USA // Personal Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley
St. Louis, MO — A St. Louis woman has won her sexual harassment lawsuit against her employer Aaron’s Inc, a large rent-to-own furniture chain, which is believed by her attorneys to involve the largest payout ever in an American sexual harassment lawsuit. The plaintiff was awarded $95 million for being hit on the head with her boss’s genitals and the store’s failure to take action, reported the New York Daily News.
The plaintiff, Ashley Alford, sued Aaron’s after she was allegedly sexually assaulted twice in one day by her store manager. Aaron’s manager at the time, Richard Moore, gave Alford inappropriate nicknames and touched her inappropriately when she first started working at the furniture store in 2005. About a year after Alford was hired, the lawsuit claims that Moore approached her in the stock room and hit her on the head with his penis. Later that day, Moore then lifted her shirt and masturbated over her as she was being held down by him.
Moore did not report to work again after those incidents took place.
Alford also alleges that months prior to the last incident with Moore, she contacted the employee harassment hotline, but an investigator never contacted her. In addition, the lawsuit asserts that Alford was denied a promotion for reporting the sexual harassment.
Aarons released a statement concerning the ruling, which read: “Aaron’s is extremely disappointed with the jury’s verdict and believes that the award does not accurately reflect the evidence that was presented in this case,” said Chad Strickland, vice president of associate resources for Aaron’s. “We feel strongly that this verdict is the result of a decision made by a classic runaway jury, and because of that we are confident that the damages will be greatly reduced. We intend to appeal the verdict and seek a fairer and more equitable outcome.”
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for sexual harassment lawyers.
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