Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

Workplace Harassment Could Be An Issue in "Femme Fatales" Lawsuit

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: April 23, 2014

Key Contacts

Back

Actress, Anne Greene, and Time Warner’s HBO division are currently in a legal battle

The cause? Greene’s choice to not perform a topless sex scene on set. We previously discussed the potential breach of contract in this situation, but there are other issues, such as workplace harassment, that we should touch on.

HBO
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Greene claims she was “bullied into performing nude scenes, sexually harassed and placed in a dangerous work environment” during the filming of an episode of “Femme Fatales” for Cinemax.

Unlawful Harassment

To better understand this situation, it is important to become aware of the two types of unlawful harassment:

  • Quid Pro Quo harassment – According to the Department of Labor, this type of harassment is generally made by someone who can make or recommend decisions such as termination, demotion or denial of promotion. One example could be if a supervisor demotes an employee for refusing to be sexually cooperative.
  • Hostile work environment harassment – This type of harassment can occur when unwelcome conduct of supervisors, co-workers, customers or contractors is present. This is probably where Greene’s complaint falls, as she said unnecessary personnel were on set watching her nude scene.

To violate harassment laws, conduct must be unwelcome and based on the victim’s protected status. Secondly, the conduct must be subjectively abusive to the person impacted and objectively severe and pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive.

There is no telling where this case is headed, but if Greene is able to prove the above criteria she could be able to recoup damages from Time Warner’s HBO division.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Reputational Risk and Legal Exposure: Why New Jersey Businesses Must Manage Them Together post image

Reputational Risk and Legal Exposure: Why New Jersey Businesses Must Manage Them Together

New Jersey businesses must manage legal and reputational risk together because modern disputes play out on two fronts at once: the legal proceeding itself and the court of public opinion, where customers, employees, investors, and business partners often reach conclusions long before a judge or jury has had the opportunity to evaluate the facts. Success […]

Author: Sean M. Pena

Link to post with title - "Reputational Risk and Legal Exposure: Why New Jersey Businesses Must Manage Them Together"
Eviction Is Not Always the End: Understanding Post-Possession Rent Claims in New Jersey and New York post image

Eviction Is Not Always the End: Understanding Post-Possession Rent Claims in New Jersey and New York

No. An eviction does not automatically end a tenant’s obligation to pay rent. Post-eviction rent claims are common because recovering possession resolves who has the right to occupy the premises, but it does not extinguish the tenant’s contractual obligations under the lease. Whether unpaid or future rent remains owed depends on three factors: the lease’s […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "Eviction Is Not Always the End: Understanding Post-Possession Rent Claims in New Jersey and New York"
Company Dissolved? Legal and Financial Consequences to Expect post image

Company Dissolved? Legal and Financial Consequences to Expect

A company is dissolved; legally, it ceases to exist. Accordingly, dissolution results in significant legal and financial consequences.  It is a process that must be properly managed to avoid continuing liability. The Corporate Dissolution Process Corporate dissolution is the legal process of formally closing a corporation, paying its debts and distributing the remaining assets. Most […]

Author: Jay McDaniel

Link to post with title - "Company Dissolved? Legal and Financial Consequences to Expect"
The Legal Implications of Signing a Triple Net Lease post image

The Legal Implications of Signing a Triple Net Lease

A triple net lease is a commercial lease in which the tenant pays the property’s real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs, known as the three nets, in addition to base rent. They are most often used in freestanding retail and office buildings and in large single-tenant industrial properties, with terms that typically run 10 […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "The Legal Implications of Signing a Triple Net Lease"
When to Settle and When to Fight: A Litigator's Framework post image

When to Settle and When to Fight: A Litigator's Framework

Every lawsuit comes with a cost, and knowing when to settle a lawsuit is one of the most consequential decisions a business owner will face. Experienced litigators understand how to minimize cost and obtain certainty for their clients. For many business owners, the decision is viewed almost entirely through a financial lens: What will it cost […]

Author: Sean M. Pena

Link to post with title - "When to Settle and When to Fight: A Litigator's Framework"
What Is Corporate Litigation? A Clear Guide for Businesses post image

What Is Corporate Litigation? A Clear Guide for Businesses

Corporate litigation, also called commercial litigation or business litigation, is the formal legal process through which companies resolve disputes in the civil court system. When a business relationship breaks down and other resolution methods have failed, litigation provides a structured legal mechanism for asserting rights, recovering damages, enforcing obligations, and obtaining court-ordered relief. Unlike criminal […]

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Link to post with title - "What Is Corporate Litigation? A Clear Guide for Businesses"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.
“If you would like to submit a file, please email it directly to info@sh-law.com.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!