Legal Question in Employment Law in Arizona

Hello,

I have recently had a problem with the Vice President of the company I work for. I am a female and the VP is a male. I was sitting at my desk talking with a co-worker about a project we are working on together and the VP came over to ask what we were talking about in a joking way. Then he decided it would be okay to punch me in the knee pretty hard. I told him that he hit me really hard and it hurt so he then hit me again. I have reported the issue to my HR department and was told that his actions were not acceptable and would be dealt with. They then questioned my co-worker who witness him hit me and she confirmed what I reported. As of today nothing has been done or said to him. The incident happened a week ago. I have been asked to sign a form saying I will not take legal action against the company for the incident. I do not feel comfortable in my work place and I am not sure what to do going forward. My family thinks I should hire a lawyer but I really like where I work and I am afraid if I take legal action I will be fired.

This is also not the first time he hit me. I had attended a going away happy hour that was not a company sponsored event and when someone at the table made a comment about wanting to slap someone he slapped me in the face. He did not hit me really hard but hard enough to turn my cheek red. I am not sure if this is something I should report because it happened outside of work at an event that was not sponsored by my office.

I want to know if this is a difficult type of lawsuit or if it would be more trouble than its worth.


Asked on 3/31/10, 8:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lance Davidson Lance S. Davidson, P.C.

Do you have photos? Did you report the first incident? Would you co-worker sign an affidavit? Did you sign the release requested by your company? Your question is relative so an answer isn't easy; most lawsuits are difficult and harassment is a personal issue to suffer, if you intend to continue in that environment.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, but you should consult with an attorney to assure your claim is properly presented.

Please contact my office via my website at www.CleverLegal.com to discuss your options. Your issue may be time-sensitive and may result in loss of rights if you do not act in time. Thank you.

Disclaimer: This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship and is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice and you should not rely upon it as more specificity in a consultation may reveal facts or other information which could change the result. You should consult an attorney for legal advice addressed to your individual situation.

Best,

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Answered on 4/06/10, 8:50 am


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