Miami Beach firefighter wins sexual harassment lawsuit

A federal jury found that Miami Beach firefighter, Marlenis Smart was subjected to sexual harassment from co-workers and bosses and awarded her $700,000.

According to court documents, Smart’s harassment began almost immediately after she was hired in 2005. Smart alleged that men in the department refused to work with her because she was a woman. She was repeatedly accused of having affairs. In one incident a bathing suit was taken from her locker and returned with semen stains. One male co-worker once walked in on her while she was showering.

Smart filed a complaint with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March of 2008 and filed her federal lawsuit in May of 2010.

Smart also alleges that the department retaliated against her by suspending her for 240 hours and attempting to have her EMS license revoked by the Florida Department of Health. Sexual harassment attorneys are often retained by victims because of retaliation.

The jury ruled in favor of her sexual harassment complaint but ruled against her claims of retaliation.

The city is filing motions to have the judgment overturned and if that fails plans to file an appeal.

Victims of harassment are able to seek compensatory damages from their employers when they hire a sexual harassment lawyer.

Most often, victims just want the harassment to end and when their employers fail to take appropriate action the victims turn to sexual harassment attorneys to intervene on their behalf and end their mistreatment.