North America

Female prisoners in Washington prisons alleged sexual abuse by the prison guards. As a remedial remedy, the Department of Corrections designated 110 positions as female-only. These female-only positions include observing female prisoners in sensitive locations, such as showers, as well as performing pat downs. The union of correctional officers sued the Department for Title VII violations for sexual discrimination in employment. The district court granted summary judgment for the Department.

A Tennessee statute required private clinics providing a “substantial number” of abortions to obtain a “certificate of need” from the Health Facilities Commission and a license from the Department of Health. The Department of Health denied a license to the defendants, and then sued to enjoin them from performing abortions. The defendants alleged that the licensing requirement violated the United States and Tennessee Constitutions' protection of women’s right to privacy. The Davidson County Chancery Court upheld the statute and enjoined the defendants from performing abortions.

Lisa Rodriguez was a patrol officer at Texas Southern University (“TSU”) who alleged that her supervisor sexually harassed her by making sexual innuendos, making inappropriate remarks, commenting on her physical attractiveness, asking about the color of her undergarments, and keeping a picture of her on his desk.  Eventually, Ms.

Texas prohibits pregnant unemancipated minors from obtaining abortions unless the physician performing the abortion gives at least 48 hours actual notice of the appointment, in person or by telephone, to the minor’s parent, managing conservator, or guardian. If the parent or guardian cannot be notified after a reasonable effort, the physician may perform the abortion after giving 48 hours constructive notice by certified mail to the guardian’s last known address.

In the case Thames Talent, Ltd. v. Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities, 265 Conn. 127 (2003), a female employee filed a complaint under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-60(a)(4) and (8), alleging sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge after objecting to her employer’s offensive conduct.

The Court reversed the lower court and remanded to family court for entry of a protective order on behalf of petitioner.  Petitioner and defendant had been in a twelve year relationship that ended.  A year later, defendant made efforts to renew the relationship and began harassing petitioner with numerous phone calls, voice mail messages to her home and work phone and by making unannounced appearances at her workplace and home.  Defendant arrived at her home and didn’t leave the premises for approximately two hours.  During that time, he banged a three foot metal bar aga

Ms.

The plaintiff-appellant, a former employee of FedEx, the defendant, was discharged when she did not return from work after a 16-month leave of absence. She took this leave because of stress she suffered after being sexually harassed by her immediate supervisor, and she did not return to work because her health care providers had not released her from treatment for panic disorder and fibromyalgia. The plaintiff sued for sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as well as discrimination based on disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act restructures New York State’s anti-trafficking and prostitution framework to increase penalties on traffickers and buyers while expanding protections for victims, many of whom are young women, girls, and gender-marginalized people. It raises the felony level for sex and labor trafficking, creates aggravated labor trafficking when controlled substances are used to impair victims, and adds new crimes such as aggravated patronizing a minor and patronizing a person for prostitution in a school zone.

KM was employed by the village fire department as a secretary. G. Trayling was a lieutenant with the fire department and worked in the same office as KM. On one occasion Trayling kissed KM on the cheek, and on another he put his hands on her waist and hips. G. Trayling was charged by the village manager with sexually harassing KM in violation of Title VII and the Illinois Human Rights Act. Although the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners opted to suspend Trayling for 30 days without pay rather than discharge him, both he and the manager requested a review of the decision.