Law Firm Appeals $3.8-Million Sex-Harassment Award

An internationally known law firm slapped with a record $3.8-million judgment in a sexual harassment lawsuit has appealed the decision, calling the award excessive.

Baker & McKenzie, the world’s largest law firm, appealed the already reduced amount granted Rena Weeks after this summer’s trial. She had claimed that she was harassed by attorney Martin Greenstein and that the firm knew about his actions but failed to stop him from making advances toward her and other female employees.

A San Francisco Superior Court jury awarded Weeks $6.9 million in punitive damages Sept. 1. Judge John Munter reduced the amount on Dec. 12. Even at the lower figure, it is the largest award ever in a sexual harassment complaint, according to Weeks’ lawyers.

Baker & McKenzie said Thursday that the firm considers the award excessive.

“Although Judge Munter reduced the damages in his ruling, we feel strongly that the punitive damages award remains grossly disproportionate to the situation and the compensatory damages,” the firm said in a statement.

Weeks, 40, worked for the 1,700-lawyer firm in Palo Alto for three months in 1991, including about a month as Greenstein’s secretary.

She testified that after one luncheon in a local restaurant, Greenstein dumped candies in a breast pocket of her blouse, touched her breast through the shirt, pulled her arms back from behind and said, “Let’s see which one (breast) is bigger.”

She said Greenstein later lunged at her in the office, grabbed her hips on another occasion and made sexually suggestive comments.

Seven other women said Greenstein had grabbed them, propositioned them or made lewd remarks in incidents dating back to 1987. None sued, but all testified in support of Weeks.

Greenstein, 49, resigned under pressure in October, 1993, after 22 years with the firm. He denied Weeks’ accusations and described her as an incompetent secretary.