Wigdor LLP has filed a lawsuit against Tribeca based architect firm Despont Studios LLC on behalf of client Trinity Sunaz, a former Housekeeper at the studio. Ms. Sunaz joined the company as a Housekeeper in December 2014, and was subject to sexual harassment and racial discrimination that continued throughout her employment until her eventual constructive discharge in early 2017.
The complaint alleges that a fellow housekeeper at Despont Studios repeatedly referred to Ms. Sunaz as “monkey,” and commented that her “whole family is monkeys.” Despite repeated complaints, at no point was her harasser disciplined, indeed the discrimination only intensified after Ms. Sunaz complained.
In addition to the racial discrimination, Ms. Sunaz suffered repeated sexual harassment at the hands of an accountant at Despont Studios. As alleged in the complaint, Smith began making inappropriate comments about Ms. Sunaz’s breasts, such as “You’ve got the biggest boobs in the office,” questioned her about her preferred sexual positions, and even requested that Ms. Sunaz “send naked pictures.” The inappropriate comments quickly escalated into physical harassment, including several incidents of groping Ms. Sunaz’s breasts and bottom, despite repeated demands from Ms. Sunaz that he stop.
Ultimately, Ms. Sunaz felt she was left with no other choice than to remove herself from employment there, given the company’s reluctance to offer her protection from the ongoing sexual harassment and discrimination.
Ms. Sunaz’s lawyer, Wigdor LLP Partner David Gottlieb, said of the lawsuit:“No woman should have to go to work and worry for her physical safety, and we intend to hold the company responsible for its now repeated failures to address employee complaints of harassment.”
Daily News
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