Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in New Jersey

harassment in a grocery store

while food shopping, I noticed a male employee following me thru every aisle, back tracking when I back tracked, as well as continuing aisles 30 secs after I reached the next aisle... everytime, me noticing in the corner of my eye w/ his one hand in his pocket..for over an hour & 1/2. finally contacted a manager after seeing his zipper was down!while speaking to manager, another woman overheard & came to us w/ same complaint from last week, but never addressed it to manager! now she says she wasnt just imagining it! manager assured my safety,helping me finish shop(though being so frazzled, I still forgot to buy many items!) & walked me to car, but never went further than saying tapes are going to be reviewed & get back to me. I immediately came back to store to have police also called. They Q'ed me, then him alone, after which police told me only that he admitted to having a sore on his genitals, .. thats why the hand in the pocket... blah blah! employee was let go for day, but will be back. I want to seek further action..possibly w/ store & employee. I know innocent til proven guilty, but Im freaked out & sick to my stomach. possible lewdness, if not harassment? please help


Asked on 11/05/06, 11:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joseph Grassi Barry, Corrado, Grassi & Gibson, PC

Re: harassment in a grocery store

I'm sorry to hear you had such a distressing incident occur.

I did not get from your post whether the police have pressed charges based upon your complaint. You certainly have the right to bring a complaint against the store employee for lewdness. You can file that complaint in the local municpal court.

You may also have a cause of action against the supermarket itself, in a civil action. A common carrier or place of public accommodation has a duty to protect it's patrons from the gross insults of its employees.

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Answered on 11/06/06, 10:34 am


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