Mary Jane Karas v. Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel
Published: Aug. 7, 1999 | Result Date: Jun. 21, 1999 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 719022 Verdict – $68,910
Judge
Court
San Diego Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Jeffrey S. Behar
(Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar LLP)
Facts
Plaintiff, Mary Jane Karas, was employed 16 years as a banquet waitress with defendant, Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel. From September 1994, through March of 1996, plaintiff suffered sexual harassment by her immediate supervisor, banquet Captain, Jesse Castellano. The alleged harassment included foul language, spoken sexual advances, mimicry - with food items-of various phallic poses, and physical/sexual touching. On Feb. 21, 1996, plaintiff called defendant SheratonÆs corporate ombudsman in Boston, MA to report further instances of sexual harassment. Defendant Sheraton conducted a thorough investigation, which revealed that 8 other banquet waitresses, had also been sexually harassed by Castellano. As a result of the investigation, the hotel terminated Castellano on March 4, 1996. The plaintiff left her employment with defendant Sheraton in March 1996, and, fearing retaliation, never returned.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand of $199,999. The defendant offered $60,000.
Other Information
PLEASE RESPOND ASAP, THIS IS FOR AUG. 2 EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIAL ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Deliberation
four hours
Poll
9-3
Length
six days
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