Genie Harrison

The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have provided many with the strength to come forward and confront their abusers, said Harrison, and it's not stopping anytime soon.

"A major driver in this time has been social media," Harrison said. "Victims can connect with one another, talk about their experiences and support one another."

But Harrison also remembers the uptick in people coming forward when Anita Hill accused then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. It's why Harrison, who launched her law firm in 2013, works diligently to represent victims of sexual battery, abuse and harassment. "My phone rings every day with stories of current incidents and those remain shocking to me," she said. "Progress is being made incrementally, but sexual harassment cases aren't going to cease. They've been going on since the beginning of time and women working."

Harrison continues to represent Sandeep Rehal, the former personal assistant to Harvey Weinstein in a federal sexual harassment and retaliation complaint against the disgraced filmmaker. In the suit, Rehal alleges Weinstein repeatedly groped her and forced her to assist in his sexual encounters with women. Rehal v. Weinstein, 18-CV00674 (S.D. N.Y., filed Jan 25, 2018).

Recently, Bob Weinstein, a co-defendant in the matter, lost his motion to dismiss the case, which remains active despite The Weinstein Co. filing for bankruptcy in March 2018.

"Ms. Rehal is very proud to be a former employee who has stepped forward to tell the truth and assist law enforcement's endeavors across the country," Harrison said. "She wishes that this never happened to her, obviously, or anyone else who was victimized by Mr Weinstein and by The Weinstein Company."

Harrison also has another case in Los Angeles County Superior Court involving Weinstein. In that matter, a massage therapist alleges Weinstein forced her to have oral sex and fondle him under threat that he would destroy her career. Doe v. Weinstein, 18STCV08468 (L.A. Super Ct., filed Dec. 12, 2018).

"[Ms. Doe] is also hopeful that her efforts to come forward are helpful to others and lets other victims out there know that they are not alone," Harrison said.

Harrison's work on sexual harassment and abuse extend beyond litigation. She has testified at the California Assembly Rules Subcommittee Hearing on Sexual Harassment and worked on the law banning non-disclosure agreements and secret settlements in such cases. She currently serves as first vice president of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and will elevate to the presidency in 2021, making her the fifth woman in the role.

It comes at a time when representation means more than being a face in the crowd.

"The leadership of these organizations needs to reflect the diversity of the legal community," she said. "And it's important that an attorney who does victim's right work is talking with legislators about how the justice system is working and not working."

-- Glenn Jeffers