Diane Williams made history with her groundbreaking case in 1976, Williams v. Saxbe, 413 F. Supp. 654 (D.D.C. 1976), the first successful sexual harassment case.
Diane Williams, photograph by Kyle White.
For more about her life, see here.
Bundy v. Jackson, 641 F.2d 934 (D.C. Cir. 1981)
Sandra G. Bundy v. Delbert Jackson, 641 F.2d 934 (D.C. Cir. 1981) was the first successful appellate court hostile environment sexual harassment case. For more about Sandra Bundy, see this recent New York Times profile.
Sandra Bundy, Photograph by Lexy Swall
Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998)
In Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998), the Supreme Court ruled on school liability for teacher-student harassment under Title IX.
Kolstad v. American Dental Association, 527 U.S. 526 (1999)
In Kolstad v. American Dental Association, 527 U.S. 526 (1999), the Supreme Court ruled on when a jury can award punitive damages against an employer.
Crawford v. Metro. Gov’t. of Nashville and Davidson Cnty. Tenn., 555 U.S. 271 (2009)
In Crawford v. Metro. Gov’t. of Nashville and Davidson Cnty. Tenn., 555 U.S. 271 (2009), the Supreme Court offered guidance on what qualifies as protected activity and retaliation.
Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders, 542 U.S. 129 (2004)
In Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders, 542 U.S. 129 (2004), the Supreme Court evaluated the circumstances under which an employee might bring a successful constructive discharge case against an employer.
Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1998)
Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1998) ruled that Title VII prohibits same-sex sexual harassment.
For oral argument: https://www.oyez.org/cases/1997/96-568
Joseph Oncale and his attorneys.
Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993)
In Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993), the Supreme Court ruled on whether an employee has to prove that sexually harassing conduct seriously affected their psychological well being in order to win a Title VII case.
Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998).
Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998), a companion case to Faragher, ruled on employer liability for sexual harassment.
Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998).
The Supreme Court first ruled on employer liability in the 1998 case of Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998), a companion case to Burlington.
Plaintiff Beth Ann Faragher (AP Photo).
Personal account of Beth Ann Faragher