Features Court’s Record of Failing to Protect Victims of Sexual Harassment and Rape
LANSING – The Michigan Democratic Party today launched its new Michigan Supreme Court commercial, “Amy,” which is running online and highlights a 2007 ruling where the Court ruled against a woman that was raped at work even though she had informed her employer of continued sexual harassment at the workplace.
“Whether you’re a man or woman, everyone can agree it’s appalling the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that corporations have no responsibility to prevent harassment or even rape at work,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “We need a Court that has zero tolerance for violence against women and children.”
In Brown v. Brown (No. 131358, 2007), the Court found that the woman’s employer was not liable for her rape, even though she had reported a fellow employee to management on at least three separate occasions for making crude, sexually suggestive comments. The harassment continued for months, and the victim was working a late-night shift with her harasser when he raped her in a restroom at their workplace.
Justice Stephen Markman wrote a concurring opinion in the case in which he suggested that the victim might be responsible for her own rape, asking, “Is it ever relevant, as in this case, that the victim herself, working in close proximity with the criminal perpetrator, failed to recognize that he posed a threat to violently rape her?”
The 30-second spot is available online here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISou5dbbrBQ
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