I have represented victims of sexual harassment for decades. Finding proof of sexual harassment can be difficult. Many perpetrators of sexual harassment do their best to make sure that their activities are private, so that proof will never come to light.
In recent years, though, text messages have become one of the best ways to prove in court what a harassing or potentially dangerous employee has done.
I have had a number of cases that have settled immediately after damning text messages, often written by a male harasser to the victim, are discovered. This kind of proof is incredibly important, because it often shows the candid and inappropriate behavior of the harasser, in his own words. That is the best kind of evidence to show what my clients have gone through at the hands of a supervisor intent on committing harassment.
So how do you get this evidence in front of a jury? First, make sure that you never delete text messages, even if they are inappropriate. Lock them, save them, or take screenshots of them to make sure that they never simply vanish. If you are getting a new phone and changing from an old one, make sure that vital text message evidence comes along for the ride, and that it is not accidentally deleted.
And no matter what, hire an experienced attorney who is a well-known advocate for victims of sexual harassment. Don’t hesitate to give me a call.