Finding an intern had produced sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude his supervisor engaged in a pervasive pattern of harassing conduct “because of sex,” including numerous gifts, frequent lunch purchases, along with sexual jokes and displays of pornographic computer images, the California Court of Appeal has allowed his harassment suit to proceed, reversing a lower court’s summary judgment against the plaintiff. Lewis v. City of Benicia, No. A134078 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 26, 2014). The Court further found the trial court erred in excluding evidence of the alleged harassment in the intern’s retaliation claim against the City of Benicia and ordered a retrial on the retaliation claim. To read more, click here.

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Photo of Mark S. Askanas Mark S. Askanas

Mark S. Askanas is a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He joined the firm in 1988 and is a senior employment law litigator who has served as lead counsel for cases in state and federal courts, as…

Mark S. Askanas is a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He joined the firm in 1988 and is a senior employment law litigator who has served as lead counsel for cases in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration forums, throughout the western United States.

Mark practices all forms of complex litigation, including class actions and cases involving trade secrets and confidential information. He also counsels employers on all facets of employment law including, but not limited to, wage and hour issues and best preventive employment practices. He regularly speaks throughout the United States to employer groups and trade associations on these and other topics.

Photo of Mitchell F. Boomer Mitchell F. Boomer

Mitchell F. Boomer is the office managing principal in the Austin, Texas, office and a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Since joining the firm in 1992, he has represented employers in all areas of employment litigation, including…

Mitchell F. Boomer is the office managing principal in the Austin, Texas, office and a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Since joining the firm in 1992, he has represented employers in all areas of employment litigation, including wrongful termination, employment discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, trade secret and unfair competition cases in federal and state courts in California, Washington and Nevada.

Mitch regularly advises clients on employee discipline, layoffs, reductions in force, human resource policies, leave management and disability matters. Mitch frequently addresses private industry groups on a variety of employment topics, including sexual harassment in the workplace, unfair competition, workplace violence, wage and hour law, preventive employee relations, disability and leave management, and current developments in federal and state labor and employment law.