Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Virginia

My husband went to Walmart today in Virginia and he witnessed something disturbing. He saw three men in line at the checkout undressing the woman in front of them and then the cashier with their eyes. It was pretty blatent they even would step out of line to watch the woman's body walk out of the store then they would step around to the backside of the cashier to watch her process their groceries. Is this sexual Harassment? If this were to happen to me do I have any rights and is it actionable? The other thing is that the other people in line would look away and so there were no witnesses.


Asked on 8/29/09, 8:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

No and no (in my opinion). What you've described certainly appears to qualify as boorish behaviour. Boorish behaviour, however, doesn't necessarily equate with the components required to prove sexual harassment under federal anti-discrimination law. (Furthermore, the compass of federal sexual harassment law does not extend to customers in a store or business but is limited to its employees and managerial personnel.)

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Answered on 9/04/09, 12:09 am


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