How Long Do You Have To Sue For Sexual Harassment In California?
Many victims of sexual harassment do not understand the time limits set forth by California state law when it comes to filing a lawsuit. If you have been harassed in the workplace, you might wonder, “How much time do I have to file a sexual harassment lawsuit?”
The simple answer is three years. More specifically, workers who experience sexual harassment at work have three years from the most recent incident of harassment to first file a complaint under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). It is worth noting that the statute of limitations in California used to be one year, but passage of Assembly Bill 9 extended that mark to three years beginning Jan. 1, 2020.
From there, the Department of Fair Employment Housing (DFEH) will investigate the claim. The victim must then receive a right-to-sue letter from the DFEH before filing a lawsuit (though a victim can also request an immediate right-to-sue letter).
If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, consider speaking with an employment lawyer to understand your options. Contact our Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer to fight back and begin building a legal case immediately.
The Statute of Limitations for Sexual Harassment Claims Under Federal Law
California law actually provides more time than does federal law for victims of sexual harassment to file a lawsuit. If a victim wants to file a claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), they will have only six months from the date of the last incident to bring a claim.
Once a worker files a claim with the EEOC, the worker can request the federal agency to conduct an investigation into their allegations or demand a right-to-sue letter. Once the victim of harassment receives a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC, they can proceed with filing a lawsuit against the perpetrator or employer.
Note: The amount of time allowed between receiving a right-to-sue letter and actually filing a lawsuit also differs between state and federal law. Under California’s FEHA, an employee has up to one year from receiving a right-to-sue letter to file a lawsuit in court; under the EEOC, the employee has only 90 days to file a lawsuit.
What Should You Do to File a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit in California?
If you are dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, you should not play along or downplay the incident. You do not have to put up with unwelcome sexual advances or other forms of unwanted, harassing behavior at work.
You may have a right to file a sexual harassment lawsuit to sue the perpetrator and recover damages. When filing a lawsuit, it is advisable to take the following steps to strengthen your claim:
- Gather evidence proving sexual harassment in the workplace
- Talk to witnesses and obtain their witness statements
- Keep a detailed account of all sexual harassment incidents (the times and dates as well as what happened)
- Get as much information as you can in writing (e.g., follow-up any applicable in-person meetings or phone calls with emails confirming the nature and date/time of the conversation)
- Consult with an attorney to find out what steps you should take to protect yourself from inappropriate behavior or unwanted sexual advances and seek compensation for the damages
The perpetrator may tamper with or destroy evidence of sexual harassment, which is why it is important to start building your legal case as soon as possible.
Contact a Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Lawyer
You have a limited amount of time to bring a sexual harassment claim in California. That is why you may want to consider contacting a knowledgeable attorney to explore your options to make the harasser stop and seek compensation for the emotional distress and other losses caused by harassment.
Schedule a case review with our employment lawyer at Litigation, P.C., by calling 424-284-2401.
