It wasn't your fault. It was against the law.
If you were sexually harassed at work in California, you have rights, and you don't have to face your harasser alone. We help workers make it stop and hold the people responsible accountable.
La Jolla, San Diego
What counts as sexual harassment
Harassment doesn't have to be physical, and it doesn't have to come from your boss. California law recognizes two kinds.
Threats or offers in exchange for sexual favors
Someone with power over your job offers something if you go along, like a raise, a promotion, or better shifts, or threatens to make your work life miserable if you don't. Write-ups, bad schedules, a demotion, or a firing for saying no all count. Lawyers call it quid pro quo.
A hostile work environment
Unwelcome comments, jokes, touching, staring, messages, or images because of your sex or gender that make it harder to do your job. It can come from a manager, a coworker, or even a customer.
California law protects you more than you think
Employers count on workers not knowing these rules.
- 1
Employee is enough
Harassment rules cover any employer with one or more employees, plus interns, volunteers, and contractors.
Gov. Code § 12940(j)(1), (j)(4)(A) - 1
Incident can be enough
A single incident of harassing conduct can be enough to take a hostile work environment claim to trial.
Gov. Code § 12923(b) - 3
Years to file
You generally have three years to file with the California Civil Rights Department. Don't wait that long.
Gov. Code § 12960(e)(5) - 2022
Arbitration became your choice
For claims arising since March 3, 2022, you can choose court over private arbitration, even if you signed an agreement.
9 U.S.C. §§ 401-402
Results for workers like you
Harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination cases our firm has resolved for California employees.
- $2,300,000Pregnancy Discrimination
FMLA retaliation and wrongful termination.
- $275,000Sexual Harassment
Client reported unwanted flirting, crude jokes, and creepy comments from a manager.
- $215,000Whistleblower Retaliation / Wrongful Termination
- $185,000Wrongful Termination
Minimum wage violations.
- $175,000Wrongful Termination
Client fired after reporting a boss for bullying.
Results are from cases handled by Centurion Trial Attorneys, APC. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Meet Danielle Rini
Danielle Rini focuses on sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and workplace harassment cases, and she pursues maximum compensation for survivors of workplace abuse. She has personally recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
She graduated cum laude from California Western School of Law, where she was a member of the Public Interest Law Foundation.
Meet Attorney Ryan
You may know Ryan Stygar from social media, where millions of people follow him to learn how to stand up for themselves at work. He's a workers' rights employment attorney, a former firefighter, and the author of Get It in Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Your Rights at Work (Penguin).
His practice is built on one idea: the age of fearing our bosses is over.
What happens when you call us
You tell your story once, to people who believe you. Then we take it from there.
Tell us what happened
Fill out a short form or call us. We treat what you share as confidential.
We review your case
An attorney looks at what happened, who was involved, and what your employer did about it, then explains your options in plain English.
We fight for you
If we take your case, we handle the employer, the paperwork, and the negotiations, and take it to court if we need to. You pay no fee unless we win.
Questions people ask us
What counts as sexual harassment at work?
Two kinds of conduct count. The first is quid pro quo: someone with power over your job offers a benefit, like a raise or better shifts, in exchange for sexual favors, or threatens to make your work life hell if you refuse. The second is a hostile work environment: unwelcome sexual comments, jokes, touching, messages, images, or conduct because of your sex or gender that make it harder to do your job.
Read more in our guide, What Counts as Sexual Harassment at Work in California?
Does one incident count, or does it have to keep happening?
One incident can be enough. California law says a single incident of harassing conduct is sufficient to create a triable issue that a hostile work environment existed, if it unreasonably interfered with your work or created an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment (Gov. Code § 12923(b)).
How long do I have to take action?
In most cases you have three years from the harassment to file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (Gov. Code § 12960(e)(5)). Once the Department issues a right-to-sue notice, you generally have one year from that notice to file a lawsuit (Gov. Code § 12965(c)(1)(D)).
Don't wait on those deadlines. Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and texts get deleted. Talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.
Can I be fired for reporting harassment?
No. It's illegal for an employer to fire, demote, or punish you because you complained about harassment, filed a complaint, or helped with an investigation (Gov. Code § 12940(h)). If that happens, retaliation is a separate claim on top of the harassment itself.
How much does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. We handle harassment cases on contingency: no fee unless we win. If there is no recovery, you pay no fees or costs. We'll explain the fee in a written agreement before any work begins.
Guides and news
Plain-English guides to your rights, and what the latest harassment cases mean for California workers.
- Guide
Can My Employer Force My Sexual Harassment Claim Into Arbitration?
A 2022 federal law lets sexual harassment survivors choose court over forced arbitration, even if they signed an arbitration agreement. Here's how it works.
- Guide
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Harassment Claim in California?
California generally gives you three years to file a harassment complaint with the Civil Rights Department, then one year to sue. Here's how the deadlines work.
- Guide
What Counts as Sexual Harassment at Work in California?
California's definition of sexual harassment is broader than most people think. Here's what counts, who's covered, and what to do if it's happening to you.
You don't have to keep putting up with it.
Tell us what happened. We'll help you understand your options.