Sexual Harassment Lawyer Dallas, TX

You Aren't Powerless. We Stand With Dallas Workers.

No fees unless we win your case
Personal advocacy against powerful employers in Dallas
Decades of success in harassment claims
Free, confidential consultations available today

Mr. Atkerson's Victories in Sexual Harassment Cases

"Dan Atkerson can easily outshine a big law firm, like he did in my case (the employer was represented by a big law firm). Thank you, Dan!" — Priya, 5-Star Review

What to Do Now

Call Our Lawyer

In the United States, 81% of women and 43% of men report suffering sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. You're not alone, and you have a path to justice:

You have 300 calendar days from your employer's last discriminatory act to file a sexual harassment claim.

If you are an employee facing sexual harassment or discrimination at work, going to work every day can become a struggle, and you might be tempted to leave your job instead of telling someone about the harassment. By working with a lawyer like Dan Atkerson, you get a dedicated advocate in your corner who will listen to your side of the story, guide you through the next steps, and help you achieve the best possible outcome.

woman reporting harassment to her manager

Tell Your Manager

Failing to report sexual harassment to your employer can affect your case later on. Therefore, you should notify your manager immediately if you feel that you are experiencing sexual harassment. Schedule a meeting with your manager and be sure to document your meeting in writing. This also allows your employer to investigate the situation and rectify it.

Don't Quit Your Job

While it can be tempting to quit your job and leave this dark period behind without telling anyone, quitting can prevent you from filing a claim in the future, and leaving without pursuing a case can mean that your harasser will not face the consequences of their actions.

Request a Free Legal Consultation Today

You have 300 days from the last discriminatory act to file a claim. If you've been victimized by co-workers or your supervisor, it's important that you contact a sexual harassment lawyer. Our team at the Law Offices of Dan A. Atkerson can review your case free of charge and recommend the next steps. We're here to listen and help; contact us online or call our law firm today.

"Dan Atkerson is an incredible lawyer! From the very beginning, he was knowledgeable, strategic, and made sure I understood every step of the process. He always kept me in the loop and was quick to answer any questions, which made a huge difference in reducing the stress that comes with legal matters." — Mary, 5-Star Review

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Sexual Harassment Attorney in Dallas?

There are no upfront costs when you hire sexual harassment lawyer Dan Atkerson. We offer free consultations and contingency-based legal services, so we only get paid a fee when Dan Atkerson settles a claim for monetary damages against an employer.

That means that you do not have to pay anything until he recovers compensation on your behalf. Contact us today to learn more about contingency fee claims.

What Dan Can Do For You

Determine if You Have a Case

The law does not protect against teasing, offhand comments, or one-off incidents. To be considered illegal, the harassment must be deliberate or repeated and severe enough that it is creating an intimidating or hostile work environment or affecting someone's employment. Mr. Atkerson can examine the specifics of your case to determine whether the law was broken.

Examine the Evidence

On your own, it can be difficult to prove that sexual harassment took place. Your employer will most likely have a lawyer, so you need one in your corner, too. As your legal advocate, our Dallas sexual harassment lawyer can listen to your side of the story, examine the facts, prove that illegal sexual harassment took place, and fight to recover compensation on your behalf.

Protect Your Rights

Dan Atkerson believes that every man and woman is entitled to a safe workplace where they can feel valued based on their performance. If you or a loved one is facing a harasser at work or during the interview process, contact us to protect your rights.

Provide the Support You Need

Sexual harassment can make you feel disrespected, unsafe, and vulnerable. With a sexual harassment lawyer on your side, you can feel ready to face your harasser with confidence. Our employment lawyer can also help ensure that your claim is filed correctly and on time.

What Dan Can Help You Prove

For sexual harassment behaviors to be illegal, they must meet requirements outlined in Section 21.141 of the Texas Labor Code:

The Behavior Is Unwelcome: Our Dallas-area attorney will need to prove that the behaviors were unwelcome. Together, we will gather evidence of your refusal to partake in the behaviors, reports made to your manager, and any damages that occurred as a result of the sexual harassment.

The Behavior Interferes With Work Performance and Work Conditions: Our attorney will also need to prove that the behaviors or sexual advances created an offensive, intimidating, or hostile work environment, interfered with work performance, or that rejecting the advances would impact an individual's employment.

Talk to Mr. Atkerson Today Request a Consultation With Our Dallas Sexual Harassment Attorney

When you go to work, you expect to be treated with kindness, respect, and appreciation for your contributions. Harassment is completely unacceptable and can deeply affect how you feel about going to work every day. It can even take a toll on your personal life, causing anxiety, stress, humiliation, and low self-esteem.

Dallas employment attorney Dan Atkerson understands how difficult it can be to pursue a sexual harassment claim on your own. As your attorney, he is here to handle your claim and stand by your side every step of the way.

To find out if you have a case, schedule a consultation at our McKinney office today:

We're Located Just 40 Minutes From Dallas

Our McKinney office is just 40 minutes north of Dallas. Dan Atkerson has been an employment lawyer for over four decades, and he represents workers from Dallas, Allen, Plano, Frisco, and all parts of North Texas in a wide range of practice areas.

Contact our law firm today to learn more about your options.

Anyone Can Be Victimized

Men, women, and non-binary individuals can be victims and perpetrators of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can occur between co-workers, supervisors and subordinates, managers, and even through the text of a supervisor's reports. It can also occur between members of the opposite sex and members of the same sex.

"Dan Atkerson Law Firm was professional, compassionate, and highly effective during a tough time. Dan communicated clearly, advocated strongly, and had my best interests at heart. I’m truly grateful for his support and highly recommend his law firm." — Shirin, 5-Star Review

What Is Considered Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is a type of discrimination in the workplace that is against the law in Texas. Sexual harassment can create a hostile work environment for everyone and includes:

Requests for sexual favors
Unwelcome sexual advances
Graphic emails, images, or texts
Offensive remarks about men and women
Unwelcome speech or conduct based on sex
Touching, groping, or other physical harassment of a sexual nature
Threatening to fire someone if they do not comply with requests for sexual favors
Retaliation by the employer after the employee complains about sexual harassment

Inappropriate jokes, sexual comments, and other verbal harassment of a sexual nature
Promising promotions, schedule changes, or compensation in exchange for sexual favors

Whether you've had to deal with quid pro quo harassment or other kinds of unwanted advances or interactions, it's important to speak with a lawyer about your case. Violations include questionable interactions with co-workers during business travel, at outside functions, or online. Serving the Dallas area for over 40 years, our Allen employment lawyer's office will review your situation and help you take the right course of action.

Have You Been Sexually Harassed at Work? Contact a Lawyer About Your Case

If you've faced unwanted sexual advances at your job or have been forced to endure a toxic work environment, contact us about what happened. Attorney Dan A. Atkerson can review what transpired and let you know if you should pursue a sexual harassment claim.

Mr. Atkerson has practiced law in the Dallas area for more than 40 years. If Mr. Atkerson takes your case, you will not pay any legal fees unless and until he wins your case.

To discuss your situation, contact our law firm online. You can also reach the Law Offices of Dan A. Atkerson by phone.

"Mr. Atkerson is an attorney that I would recommend to anyone who is seeking advice and representation in their matters of employment issues." — Chris, 5-Star Review

Severe or Pervasive Conduct

When assessing a sexual harassment claim, the severity or pervasiveness of the conduct is evaluated. Severity refers to the nature of an incident of sexual harassment, and pervasiveness refers to the frequency at which such actions occur. The conduct needs to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to create what courts would consider an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Texas Laws Against Sexual Harassment

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), it is unlawful to harass a job applicant, co-worker, or employee based on that person's sex.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code both make it illegal to harass someone at work based on their sex. The laws outlaw two types of harassment:

Quid pro quo: Quid pro quo is when a supervisor requests sexual favors in exchange for granting a promotion, raise, or another benefit. It also includes threatening to fire an employee who does not fulfill the sexual favors.
Hostile work environment: A hostile work environment is one where an employee is experiencing unwelcome and offensive sexual behaviors that negatively impact the working conditions.

Who Can Be Held Liable Under Texas Law?

The passage of SB 45 changed Texas state law regarding sexual harassment claims as of September 2021.

According to the new law, an employer can be held liable for sexual harassment if they employ one or more employees. By comparison, federal sexual harassment laws apply to employers who hire 15 or more employees. This means more small businesses can be held accountable for sexual harassment. Texas workers should feel empowered to speak out, no matter the size of their company or the nature of their occupation.

Furthermore, the new law defines an employer as one who employs an employee, or one who acts in the direct interests of an employer in relation to an employee. This means that individual managers or supervisors who engaged in harassment can be held liable in a lawsuit.

Don't Delay: You Have 300 Days to File

You have 300 days from your employer

The passage of HB 21 changed Texas state law as of September 2021, extending the amount of time to file a sexual harassment claim.

With the new bill, you have 300 calendar days from your employer's last discriminatory act to file a sexual harassment claim. Previously, you had 180 days to file a sexual harassment claim.

Even though the timeframe has nearly doubled, it is best to file your claim as soon as possible. This will help you avoid missing your deadline and losing out on eligibility for a claim. This also allows you to seek restitution sooner rather than later.

Schedule a Consultation

During your consultation, Dallas attorney Dan Atkerson can help you:

Determine if you have a sexual harassment case
Explain what steps you should take next
File a claim with the EEOC and Texas Workforce Commission if your employer has not responded to the harassment appropriately
File claims in a timely, sufficient manner
Represent you during any consequent litigation
Help you get the outcome you deserve

"Mr. Atkerson provided prompt, professional responses, took the time to explain things and kept me apprised of the steps along the way. He gave honest, straightforward information without sugarcoating the issue. I appreciate his help in resolving my matter." — Marcy, 5-Star Review

Don't wait. Contact our Dallas attorney today to get started.

Your Actions Can Help Protect You and Others

FAQ for Our Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Dallas, TX

Is workplace sexual harassment a criminal offense?

While sexual harassment is not a crime in and of itself, a sexual harassment claim can also result in criminal charges. In addition to civil penalties, workplace sexual harassment may lead to criminal charges if the incident involved stalking, assault, sexual assault, or criminal harassment.

Can my employer take action against me for filing a complaint?

No. Federal and state laws prohibit employers from retaliating against their employees for reporting sexual harassment at their workplace. This means you cannot be punished, demoted, or fired for filing a claim. If your employer retaliates against you for reporting sexual harassment, document the incident and tell your lawyer.

What about harassment by a co-worker outside of office hours?

It is possible to hold employers accountable for sexual harassment during work-related travel, work-sponsored events, and potentially even some non-work events. Texting or emailing offensive material, or engaging in online harassment via social media, may also be grounds to file a claim.

When does a comment cross the line and become sexual harassment?

This is considered on a case-by-case basis, but the nature of the compliment or comment needs to be considered along with its tone and context. If the comment is sexually suggestive or makes you feel uncomfortable or objectified, it may be considered sexual harassment.