Liability in Business

1.   Teddy's Supplies' CEO has asked you to advise him on the facts of the case, and your opinion of their potential liability.   He wants to settle the case. Write a memo to him which states your view of whether the company is exposed to liability on all issues you feel are in play. Include in your memo any laws which apply and any precedential cases either for or against Teddy's case which impact liability. Include in the memo your suggested "offer of settlement" to Virginia. Back up your offer using your analysis of the case against Teddy's


Dear Mr. Moore,

After an independent study and review of this case, it is my judgment that Teddy's Supplies is indeed liable for workplace and sexual harassment against Virginia Pollard.   A careful review of the case also indicates that the plaintiff, Ms. Pollard, was placed in a "hostile" environment under the supervision of Steve King.   While it is not illegal for one woman to work among a group of men, careful judgment should be used by the employer in determining if the work environment is suitable for males and females.   As a general rule, it is not good practice to have one female working with all male colleagues.

First of all, I will define these three types of sexual harassment as stated by: http://www.strategichr.com/shrsweb2/harassment_01.shtml

a)   “Workplace harassment is any unwelcome or unwanted conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or an aversion toward another person on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, which includes   an individual's race, color, gender, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other personal characteristic protected by law. A conduct is unwelcome if the employee did not solicit, instigate or provoke it, and the employee regarded the conduct as undesirable or offensive”.  

Pollard was constantly being harassed by her six male colleagues as she was the victim of pranks perpetrated by them...