Bill Rivers and Shirley Breakstone were young lovers. Shirley was a cashier in the local Wawa. Bill at first was a customer, then a date, then a boyfriend of Shirley’s. Shirley also had a part-time gig as a housekeeper for Professor Blake, a horticulturalist, local scalawag, and known womanizer. Professor Blake enjoyed flirting with Shirley at the Wawa and at his house. Shirley resisted his advances, but Blake persisted. Shirley invited Bill to help her clean whenever possible, to keep Blake away from her. However, sometimes Blake made unpleasant sexual remarks and put his hands on Shirley, even with Bill present! Blake, impressed by Bill’s work ethic, offered Bill a full-time job at Blake’s agricultural supply company. Bill, leery of Blake’s personality, disliking how Blake spoke to and touched Bill’s girlfriend, nevertheless felt flattered by Blake’s offer, and Bill sure did need the money.

However, as soon as Bill started his new job, Blake insisted that Bill work on Blake’s seedlings and perform yard work at Blake’s house. Bill thought it was strange, but went along with it, even when Blake pulled Bill off “work work” to do yard work. One day, Blake directed Bill to remove a heavy decorative gargoyle statue from a platform in his shed. Bill pulled the statue from the shelf, and felt a horrible twinge in his lower back. He knew he was hurt. Bill sought immediate medical assistance and learned he had herniated a disc in his back, requiring surgery. Blake, who carried no medical insurance for his employees, snickered at Bill, made fun of him for being “a sissy”, and fired him after surgery but before he was ready to return to work.

Our office sued Professor Blake and his corporation for violating Bill’s and Shirley’s civil rights. In Bill’s case, we sued for violations of the NJ Law Against Discrimination, based on the Defendant’s failure to reasonably accommodate Bill’s disability and for retaliation against Bill for having reported his injuries. Not to be forgotten, Shirley sued Blake and his company for gender discrimination, physical assault, and pain and suffering. Both lawyers agreed this case was destined for resolution by mediation.

We mutually selected a mediator with substantial experience representing Plaintiff workers and Defendant companies. After a full day of mediation, the parties miraculously agreed to resolve their differences for an undisclosed sum of money. Bill and Shirley have been able to put this nightmare saga behind them as they go about their younger yet wiser lives.