What Damages Can I Collect for Workplace Harassment?
Full Question:
Answer:
Abuse of authority occurs when a person uses authority unreasonably to interfere with an employee or the employee's job. It includes humiliation, intimidation, threats, and coercion.
Employers can be held legally responsible for harassment in their workplaces. Courts may impose penalties on the employer and the manager, even if neither of them was involved in the harassment. An organization that does nothing to prevent harassment, therefore, may well find itself facing serious financial and legal consequences.
The answer will depend on all the circumstances inolved, such as the types of losses you have suffered. For example, as a result of retaliation you may have had your hours or salary reduced, been denied vacation, etc. We are prohibted from giving a legal opinion, as this service provides information of a general legal nature. I suggest you contact a local attorney who can review all the facts and documents involved.
Actual damages can be measured. For example, ‘A’ suffers loss of income/wages due to injuries that resulted in A’s unemployment. Medical expenses and specific losses due to breach of contract. Amount awarded is according to the real harm, loss or injury sustained by an aggrieved party that can readily be proven. Such compensation does not include nominal or punitive damages.
Punitive damages are damages awarded in a lawsuit as a punishment and example to deter others from malicious, evil or particularly fraudulent acts. Plaintiff has the burden of proving that punitive damages should be awarded, and the amount, by a preponderance of the evidence. In order to succeed, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's conduct was malicious, or in reckless disregard of plaintiff's rights.
