by Brian Mahany
One hit wonder Right Said Fred had a minor hit a few years ago with his song “I’m too Sexy for My Shirt.” Now a New York court now gets to decide if former Citibank banker Debrahlee Lorenzana was literally fired for being too sexy for her shirts. According to her lawsuit, Lorenzana claims that she was fired because her branch manager thought her outfits were too distracting to male co-workers.
Businesses have the right to establish dress codes but those requirements must be reasonable and uniformly enforced. Lorenzana claims that managers told her that female co-workers were allowed to wear what they wanted because they were not attractive. She claims, however, that she was specifically forbidden to wear heels and tailored business suits because her shapeliness made those clothing choices “too distracting” for co-workers and managers.
For its part, Citibank denies the allegations.
What does this mean for employers and employees? As noted above, courts will uphold reasonable dress codes. For example, no one would argue that bathing suits can be banned from the office. If a dress code is implemented, however, managers must insure that it is uniformly applied. Make different rules because of someone’s figure and a costly lawsuit may result.
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Brian Mahany and Mahany & Ertl represent workers who suffer from discrimination or sexual harassment. We handle discrimination cases throughout Wisconsin and have successfully represented clients before state and federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division. Attorney Mahany also represents workers in Maine and before the Maine Human Rights Commission.
Call attorney Brian Mahany or Christopher Ertl today for more information. We will gladly meet with you and help you determine whether you have a case.
When we think of sexual harassment or abuse, we often think of the recent scandals that rocked the Roman Catholic Church or someone at work who filed a claim with the EEOC. Sexual abuse can occur anywhere, however. Even in the Boy Scouts.
Last month a jury in Portland, Oregon awarded a former Boy Scout $19.9 …
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by Brian Mahany (reprinted with permission from MahanyLaw.com)
Government tax authorities asking banks and credit card companies for information on foreign account holders is hardly news these days. The I.R.S. does it, so do Germany, Britain and many other countries. Officials want to know when their citizens transfer wealth overseas or open foreign accounts. Generally the …
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by Brian Mahany
(reprinted from our sister firm, MahanyLaw’s blog. www.mahanylaw.com)
In January I wrote a piece titled “Do You Know Who Is Handling Your Money?” That piece discussed how TV star Willie Adams (star of reality television show “Broke and Famous”) was now licensed to be a financial planner. Willie isn’t alone.
The newest entrant in my …
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How Stupid Can They Get? Plenty Stupid!
(A discussion of fraudulent conveyances)
by Brian Mahany
(Reprinted from our sister firm’s blog, MahanyLaw, www.mahanylaw.com)
It was inevitable - massive fraud in the government’s bailout program from 2008. The U.S. Troubled Assets Relief Program (or “TARP”) had it’s first major arrest. Charles Antonucci, former head of New York’s Park Avenue Bank, …
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by Brian Mahany
The term “clawback” is relatively new. In fact, you won’t find it in most dictionaries and even the on-line Wiktionary is quite vague in its definition; “Any recovery of a performance related payment based on discovery that the performance was not genuine.” But ask the victim or former investor of Bernie Madoff or …
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by Brian Mahany
This tasty tidbit comes from published reports in the National Law Journal - Bimbo Bakeries USA is suing a former employee who took a job at rival Hostess Brands. Why? Because he is one a few people in the world who know the recipe for Thomas’ English Muffins.
What makes this case unique is …
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Tax Authorities Resort to Illegal Bribes to Get Information
by Brian Mahany
Last summer I discussed the how the German government bribed a Liechtenstein bank employee to obtain confidential tax information - the names and addresses of German account holders with accounts at LGT Bank. What many did not know, however, was that Germany then apparently shared …
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By Brian Mahany
The concept of fining people for taking frivolous tax positions sounds pretty good at first. The California Franchise Tax Board announced it was going to fine taxpayers $5000 per offense for those who make “frivolous” arguments or attempt to “delay or impede the administration” of tax laws. The problem, of course, is allowing …
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