Legal Updates

In five of the cases heard by the United States Supreme Court during its 1998 and its 1999 term, decisions addressing central issues in developing sexual harassment law involving both employees and students were issued.

These cases were brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects employees in both public and private institutions and businesses from discrimination based on their sex.

The cases by students were brought under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which protects students from sex discrimination, including sexual assault and sexual harassment in all aspects of education (including recruitment, admissions, curricular and extracurricular opportunities, financial aid, rules of conduct, counseling, testing, fees, services and benefits, and other educational activities and opportunities).

I. The Legal Landscape-Employer Liability

• Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, June 1998, US Supreme Court
  Summary and Anaylsis by UC General Counsel Melvin W. Beal
• Burlington Industries v. Ellerth, June 1998, US Supreme Court
  Summary and Analysis by UC General Counsel Melvin W. Beal
• Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Oil Drilling, March 1998, US Supreme Court
• Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, June 1998, US Supreme Court,
  Summary and Analysis by UC General Counsel Melvin W. Beal
• Davis v. Monroe County School District, May 1999, US Supreme Court

Update 1 | Update 2 | Update 3 | Update 4 | Update 5