Sexual Harrassment Standard

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This is Robert Scirocco bringing you today's Law Bit.

Just what is sexual harassment? The N.J. Supreme Court recently told us what it is not. Two female students at the Princeton Theological Seminary were being pursued by a seventy year old man who lived close to them and years ago graduated from the same school.

He would persistently send these young women notes, conveniently run into them in card stores, and leave messages on their voicemail telling them that he was interested in seeing them again.

The divinity students sued the Seminary, on the grounds that the administration did nothing to prevent the individual’s behavior even after they complained.

The Supreme Court ruled that even though the conduct persisted for a number of years, it was not severe enough for a jury to consider. The court wrote the following: “Although socially inept and no doubt annoying, his conduct did not approach sexual harassment,” and what the women should have done was simply tell him to “go away.”

This is Robert Scirocco, Attorney at Law in Budd Lake, bringing you today's Law Bit.

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