If you're facing harassment at work, our California workplace harassment lawyers at Westview Law can help protect your rights and fight for you. With 40 years of combined experience, we can help you understand your rights, protect your job, and pursue financial compensation for the harm you have suffered, including emotional distress, lost wages, and other damages. Whether it's workplace sexual harassment, racial discrimination, disability-based harassment, or hostile work environment, our employment law attorneys are prepared to hold employers accountable under California law and fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
Speak with a workplace harassment lawyer today. Schedule a free consultation.
Workplace harassment refers to any unacceptable or offensive conduct that creates a hostile or intimating work environment. It is often based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, sex, religion, age, disability, gender identity, marital status, etc. Such harassment can come from anyone including supervisors, coworkers, or third parties like clients or contractors.
Harassment must not be physical. This means that verbal abuse, offensive comments, offensive emails, and other forms of inappropriate behaviors can qualify. Thankfully, California law provides strong protection for harassed employees and requires employers to take prompt measures to prevent or correct harassment. When harassment becomes so severe that a reasonable employee is forced to quit, it may support a constructive discharge in California claim. If you've experienced (or are experiencing) harassment in California, reach out to our California sexual harassment lawyer so we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Both federal and state laws promote and ensure the right to work in a safe, respectful environment in California. At the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also makes it illegal to retaliate against an employee who reports harassment or participates in an investigation. Our California workplace retaliation lawyers can help if you have faced retaliation. This law is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
At the state level, California law provides even broader protection through the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). It covers a wider range of protected characteristics, including sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, and gender identity. According to this California Civil Rights Department (CRD) poster, FEHA requires California employers to take reasonable measures to prevent and correct all forms of harassment in the workplace. It also requires employers with five or more employees to train and provide their employees with relevant information on the illegal nature of workplace harassment.
Workplace harassment can occur in many ways, and it is not always obvious or physical. Our California workplace harassment attorneys represent employees facing all types of unlawful conduct, including situations that are subtle, ongoing, or ignored by employers. The most common types include:
including unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments, sexual jokes, unwanted physical contact, or pressure for sexual favors. This is arguably the most common type of workplace harassment in California. You need an experienced California sexual assault lawyer to seek compensation and recover damages.
based on gender, gender identity, or gender expression. It can involve insults, stereotypes, or unequal treatment.
such as racial slurs, offensive comments, jokes, or discriminatory treatment based on race, color, or ethnicity.
which may involve mocking religious beliefs, pressuring employees to change beliefs, or denying reasonable religious accommodations.
tied to physical or mental disability; can include insults, exclusion, or retaliation.
especially on older employees, through insults, stereotypes, or pressure to leave their jobs because of age.
which can create immediate employer liability.
Employers may still be responsible for harassment by coworkers, clients, or vendors if they fail to stop it.
Workplace harassment cases can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when your job, income, and well-being are at stake. That's why we recommend you hire a California workplace harassment lawyer to protect your rights. Here's a summary of how a workplace harassment attorney can help you.
An employment law attorney reviews the facts, evidence, and timeline to determine whether your experience qualifies as illegal harassment under federal or California law.
Your attorney helps collect emails, messages, witness statements, and workplace records that support your claim and prevent important evidence from being lost.
They communicate with your employer, HR department, or their attorneys on your behalf, thereby protecting you from retaliation or pressure.
Your lawyer prepares and submits claims with agencies like the CRD or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and files a lawsuit if needed. They also ensure all filings are done within the stipulated deadlines.
In most cases, an experienced attorney negotiates on your behalf for fair settlement to recover compensation for damages such as lost wages, emotional distress, and other available compensation. In case the settlement negotiations fail, your attorney should be ready to represent you in court.
In California, employers are strictly liable for workplace sexual harassment by supervisors, even if they were not aware of the harassment and took reasonable steps to prevent it. On the other hand, employers are liable for harassment by co-workers only if they were aware or should have known and didn't take any reasonable action. Employers are also liable for harassment by non-employees such as clients, customers, and contractors, if they knew or should have known and did not act.
Moreover, the individual who committed the harassment can also be held personally liable even when the employer is also liable. Our California workplace harassment attorneys can help you identify all liable parties, hold them accountable, and pursue full and fair compensation.
If workplace harassment has harmed your career, finances, or well-being, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The exact damages depend on the facts of your case, but a successful claim can recover one or more of the following:
People usually wait too long to call, because they are not sure what they are living through is bad enough to be illegal. Here is how we answer that question, and what happens after.
California asks whether the conduct was severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of your employment. Under SB 1300, a single serious incident can be enough. You do not have to prove you were driven to a breakdown, and you do not have to show your work performance suffered. We walk through what happened and tell you honestly where it falls.
Liability often turns on this. When a supervisor is the harasser, the employer is generally strictly liable. When it is a coworker or a customer, the question becomes whether the company knew or should have known and failed to act. So we collect the complaint you made, who you made it to, and what — if anything — happened next.
Texts, emails, photos, notes written the night it happened, the HR file, and coworkers who saw the same behavior. Patterns matter here: harassment aimed at several employees is harder for an employer to explain as a misunderstanding than a single disputed exchange.
We file with the California Civil Rights Department for a right-to-sue notice and send the employer a demand supported by the record. If it does not resolve, we file and depose the harasser, the HR investigator, and the managers who decided what to do about you.
Most claims settle. The ones that settle on good terms are the ones the employer believes will otherwise be tried, and the file it has just read makes that credible.
Severity and duration come first, followed closely by the employer’s response once it knew. Economic loss matters where the harassment cost you the job or made staying impossible; emotional distress is frequently the largest component; and punitive damages are available where an employer acted with malice or oppression. Prevailing employees can also recover attorney’s fees under FEHA.
Contemporaneous proof is what separates similar-sounding cases: a written complaint, dated notes, saved messages, a witness willing to speak. Deadlines close on all of it, which is why the calendar deserves attention early.
Illustrative only. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case is different. Nothing above is a prediction or guarantee about the value of any particular claim.
We take workplace harassment cases on contingency: you pay nothing unless we recover for you. No retainer, no hourly billing, and the first consultation is free.
That is how someone still working the job, or newly out of one, can afford real trial representation. We do not post a set percentage, because the right terms depend on the case. You will see the exact figures before anything is signed.
Named California trial attorneys handle these claims, and every bar number below links to the State Bar record so you can check it yourself.
David founded Westview Law and leads its litigation practice. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Southern California three years running (2022, 2023, and 2024), a recognition reserved for a small share of attorneys under 40. He is licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of California, Bar #326605.
A veteran trial lawyer with a J.D. from the USC Gould School of Law and decades of experience in high-stakes, complex litigation. State Bar of California #138407.
Earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif, the top of his class, and brings a background in federal civil-rights enforcement. State Bar of California #319557.
Companies weigh who is on the other side. The results below come from complex commercial and business-litigation trials, not from harassment cases. We include them as evidence of the trial experience behind your claim, not as a forecast of what a harassment case is worth.
Breach of contract and fraud, tried to a jury in 2024 and recognized among the Top 100 Verdicts in California (independently listed by TopVerdict). Won by David M. Safvati.
A complex commercial trial that produced a $146M jury verdict ($73M compensatory plus $73M in punitive damages) and included cross-examining the board chairman of an international conglomerate. Lead trial counsel: Paul S. Marks.
A stipulated judgment in a real-estate investment fraud matter, resolved on the eve of trial. This is a result the firm reports from its own records; unlike the two verdicts above, it is not independently listed by a third-party service.
These are commercial-litigation results, shown as evidence of our attorneys’ trial experience rather than as workplace harassment outcomes. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.
At Westview Law, we combine experience, dedication, and client-focused service to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Here's why employees across California trust us:
Our goal is to ensure that attorney fees and legal costs doesn't stop you from seeking justice and recovering compensation. That's why we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay anything unless we win.
Our employment law attorneys have successfully recovered compensation in many challenging workplace harassment and employment cases. We know how to handle complex situations, including high-profile or multi-employee disputes.
Every case is unique, and we tailor our approach to fit your specific circumstances. You'll receive individual attention and a legal strategy designed around your needs and goals.
We understand that harassment can happen any time, so our team is available to answer your questions and provide guidance whenever you need it. Call us today!
We prepare every case as if it's going to trial, which strengthens negotiations and ensures we're ready to fight for you in court if necessary.
From understanding your legal rights to navigating state and federal complaint processes, we guide you through every step of your workplace harassment claim with clarity and expertise.
If you're experiencing any abusive behavior at work, do not hesitate to take the right action. Reach out to us for a free case review and learn how we can help protect your rights. Our California workplace harassment lawyers are ready to investigate your situation, advise you on the best legal strategy, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve for lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages.
With Westview Law, you'll have a trial-ready, experienced legal team by your side, providing personalized attention and aggressive advocacy every step of the way. Contact us today or visit our office for a free consultation free consultation and take the first step toward holding your employer accountable.
Workplace harassment can be confusing, and we know you may have many questions about your rights and legal options. Here, our experienced lawyers have provided comprehensive answers to some of the most common questions about workplace harassment in California.
Workplace harassment includes any unwelcome conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment. This can be based on protected characteristics such as sex, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Harassment can be verbal, physical, visual, or electronic and does not have to result in termination to be illegal.
Yes, we recommend reporting to your HR first. If the harassment continues, the report can further strengthen your claim that your employer was aware and fail to act.
Yes, you can pursue a claim even if the harassment comes from a coworker, as long as the employer knew or should have known about it and failed to take action. Employers can be held liable for allowing a hostile work environment to continue.
Although workplace sexual harassment is one of the most common, harassment doesn't have to be sexual to be illegal. Harassment based on race, religion, disability, age, gender identity, or other protected characteristics is also unlawful under both federal and California law. However, if you're facing sexual assault, you need an experienced California sexual assault lawyer to seek compensation and recover damages.
Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, you generally have three years to file a claim with the California Civil Rights Department. Federal claims under the EEOC typically must be filed within 180 days, or 300 days if a state agency also enforces the law. Deadlines are strict, so it's important to act quickly.
The case timeline depends on the complexity of the case, the parties involved, and whether it is settled or goes to trial. Some claims resolve within a few months, while others may take a year or longer, especially if litigation is required.
Most employment lawyers, including Westview Law, work on a contingency fee basis for harassment cases, meaning you pay nothing upfront and only pay if you recover compensation. This allows you to access experienced representation without financial risk.
No. California law protects employees from workplace retaliation for reporting harassment, filing a complaint, or participating in an investigation. Retaliation can include wrongful termination, demotion, reduction in hours, or other adverse actions, and employers who retaliate can be held legally liable.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our team for personalized insight into your unique case.
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David M. Safvati
Founding Partner
Paul S. Marks
Of Counsel
Taylor Markey
Of Counsel
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