A former research assistant filed a sexual harassment lawsuit last week, against East Orange Mayor Robert Browser, 75. The Star-Ledger reported that Browser denied the claims.
Corletta Hicks, 39, filed the suit, which alleges Browser created a hostile work environment, and was subjected to retaliation after she reported the harassment to city officials. In cases of workplace harassment, a sexual harassment attorney can protect their clients against retaliation.
The suit alleges that Browser solicited Hicks for a personal and sexual relationship in 2008, which she refused on a number of occasions. Hicks eventually felt coerced, and feared she would lose her job if she didn’t comply. She was transferred from the mayor’s office in late 2010.
Browser is also accused of sending her greeting cards with explicit messages, some containing money. The suit also stated that he would ply her with alcohol while on duty and ask for oral sex.
Browser, who is married, stated there was no sexual contact, and the reason she was transferred was because he no longer needed her assistance, which was part of the census.
Sexual harassment lawyers represent women who are subjected to harassment by men who have positions of power in both government and corporations. These women often feel the need to comply with their superiors based on their powerful positions.
In such cases, sexual harassment attorneys call this quid pro quo harassment, which is when a person in a higher position asks for sexual favors in lieu of increased salary or keeping their current job.
