Supreme Court of California

When sexual favoritism on the part of a supervisor toward a female employee with whom the supervisor is conducting a consensual sexual affair is sufficiently widespread, it may create an actionable hostile work environment claim under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/18/2005
• Published 07/18/2005

Judges

• GEORGE, C.J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Lawless & Lawless, Barbara A. Lawless, Aelish M. Baig, San Francisco, and Sonya L. Smallets, for Plaintiffs and Appellants., Law Offices of Philip Edward Kay, and Lawrence A. Organ, San Francisco, for The Civil Rights Forum as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants., Law Offices of Jeffrey K. Winikow and Jeffrey K. Winikow, Los Angeles, for California Employment Lawyers Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants., The Lucas Law Firm and Kathleen M. Lucas, San Francisco, for Equal Rights Advocates as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants., The Sturdevant Law Firm, James C. Sturdevant, San Francisco;  Law Offices of Daniel U. Smith, Daniel U. Smith, Kentfield;  Ian Herzog, Santa Monia;  Michael Adler, Los Angeles;  Sharon J. Arkin, Newport Beach;  Stuart B. Esner, Los Angeles;  Brian S. Kabateck, Los Angeles;  David A. Rosen, Los Angeles;  Christine D. Spagnoli;  Lea-Ann Tratten, Steven B. Stevens, Los Angeles;  and Scott H.Z. Sumner, Walnut Creek, for Consumer Attorneys of California as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Jacob Appelsmith, Assistant Attorney General, Vincent J. Scally, Jr., Timothy G. Yeung, Diana L. Cuomo and David J. Neill, Deputy Attorneys General, for Defendants and Respondents., Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Rebecca D. Eisen, Thomas M. Peterson and Shannon B. Nakabayashi, San Francisco, for The Employers Group as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendants and Respondents.