You can sue your employer if you face harassment in Kentucky. It is important to know that harassment is never okay and you deserve to have your rights protected. You can file a state or federal complaint to help stop the harassment. A separate lawsuit may also win you significant monetary damages.
Knowing that you can sue is one thing, knowing how is another. That is where we come in. The Kentucky employment lawyers at Abney Law know how to handle harassment claims. We help negotiate a potential resolution and file legal claims whenever necessary. Our team picks a strategy that works best for you and your rights.
Filing a Harassment Lawsuit
Harassment at work happens in so many different ways. This means there are multiple ways to handle filing a complaint or a separate lawsuit. You can independently sue your employer, the perpetrator of the harassment, or a third party when applicable. This often means filing a civil lawsuit in either Kentucky state court or in the federal court system.
Knowing what type of claim to file is difficult without an experienced attorney at your side. Even hiring a less knowledgeable lawyer could mean filing the wrong lawsuit and potentially missing your opportunity for compensation. Let our team consult on your case to determine the best path forward.
Filing Complaints with Employment Discrimination Agencies
In addition to a separate civil lawsuit, you may also file a complaint with two different agencies. The first is the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. This is a state employment discrimination agency where your attorney can file a complaint. You may also file with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It utilizes federal law to provide many of the same protections.
The agencies are also able to work together to address discrimination if the case is properly filed. For both agencies, there may be short deadlines you need to contend with. Filing deadlines for complaints are typically 180 calendar days from when the harassment took place. The time limit may be longer under certain circumstances, but you should always speak to an attorney as quickly as possible to avoid missing out on your legal rights.
Types of Harassment in Kentucky
There are many types of harassment claims you may sue for. These include, but are not limited to:
- Sexual harassment
- Physical assault or harm
- Personal harassment
- Hostile work environment
- Retaliation
- Stalking
- Cyberbullying
- Gender or gender identity discrimination
- Racial or ethnic background discrimination
Whatever harassment you face, we want to help. You are allowed to sue for workplace harassment, and there are many remedies that could be available to you.
Compensation in Workplace Harassment Claims
You have multiple methods to seek compensation, and the damages you could win often depend on the legal avenue you are under. For example, employment discrimination and harassment claims filed with the state or federal employment discrimination agency may entitle you to:
- Compensatory damages for your out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and more
- Punitive damages to punish the offender and employer for permitting harassment
Claims under these agencies have specific limits based on the size of the employer.
A separate legal claim in state or federal court may entitle you to both compensatory damages as well, but the total may not be capped as it is with agency claims. This might include pain and suffering damages, economic damages, and punitive damages here as well.
We Can Help You Sue for a Kentucky Harassment Claim
If you face harassment, we want to help. You are allowed to sue when your rights are violated. Our team of experienced employment harassment lawyers can pick the right strategy for moving forward in your case.Let the experienced employment law attorneys at Abney Law help you fight back against workplace harassment. Contact us today for a consultation of your case.