Secretary Wins Suit Against Law Firm
A former secretary for the world’s largest law firm was sexually harassed by a former partner, a jury decided Friday. Rena Weeks, 40, was awarded $50,000 in damages in her lawsuit against Martin Greenstein and the 1,600-attorney firm of Baker & McKenzie.
Weeks had sought $600,000 from Greenstein for emotional distress stemming from the harassment.
The six-man, six-woman Superior Court jury also found Baker & McKenzie failed to take sufficient action to prevent the harassment.
The jury, which began deliberating Wednesday, must return to court Monday to address punitive damages.
Weeks, who worked at the firm for about three months in 1991, alleged that Greenstein dumped candies in a breast pocket of her blouse, groped her breast, pressed against her from behind and pulled her arms back to “see which one (breast) is bigger.”
Attorneys for Baker & McKenzie argued that Weeks’ claims were “the product of an overactive imagination” and motivated by reading an office handbook on sexual harassment.
Lawyers for both sides refused comment Friday.
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