Judge Says Kleiner Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Must be Heard in Open Court

Capital venture firm Kleiner, Perkins, and Caulfield and Beyer’s recently requested that they be able to settle a sexual harassment and discrimination case through arbitration. But a San Francisco Superior Court Judge denied the request and said the trial will be held in open court, according to the Associated Press.

A junior partner for the firm, Ellen Pao, filed a suit against the firm this past May after they failed to stop continued sexual harassment targeted at her from a former lover. She stated that she endured five years of harassment from junior partner Ajit Nazre and dismissed her complaints, one of the most common reasons people feel the need to hire sexual harassment attorneys.

Pao said that after she complained about the harassment she was denied information that would help her excel in the firm and was denied perks that male employees enjoyed.

Pao also alleged that the firm routinely denied female associates the opportunity to advance, and pay equal to their male counterparts.

Kleiner denied the allegations, stating that Pao “twisted facts and events in an attempt to create legal claims where none exist.”

The lawsuit confirms claims that despite the assertions of Silicon Valley’s “progressive” hiring practices there is still a culture of gender bias.

When companies fail to protect their male or female employees from a hostile work environment they open up the possibility of lawsuits. The victims of this misconduct know that an accomplished sexual harassment lawyer can ask that their clients be compensated for their emotional distress.

Anyone who has been sexually abused or discriminated against can turn to a sexual harassment attorney and put a halt to the behavior.