FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eric Sanders, Esq., of The Sanders Firm, P.C., announces the NYPD settles ‘threesome’ sexual harassment lawsuit for $125k
New York, August 22, 2019 – The city has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by NYPD Police Officer Maribel Sarante who claimed her direct supervisor Sergeant Freddy Lopez tried to get her to participate in a threesome, then penalized her when she turned down his sexual advances.
Police Officer Maribel Sarante, 7th Precinct alleged since early 2015, her direct supervisor Sergeant Freddy Lopez made several inappropriate sexual remarks and advances towards her including: inviting her to engage in a threesome with him, his wife gives him no ass, Sarante gets no dick, I would’ve taken care of you if you drove me, etc., according to the lawsuit.
Sarante alleged, the NYPD is fully aware female subordinates’ accusing their supervisors of sexual harassment is a very serious problem especially in the ranks of Sergeant and above but, they are rarely if ever disciplined. Within the NYPD, this is known as ‘Supervisor Immunity,’ according to the lawsuit. Sarante, alleges, the NYPD Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Internal Affairs Bureau specifically investigate cases to reach the result of ‘Supervisor Immunity’ with a ‘substantiation’ rate of less than 10% due to gender bias. The NYPD then use ‘Supervisor Immunity’ and the ‘substantiation’ rate to promote unqualified employees such Lopez, who then further ‘prey’ upon other female employees, according to the lawsuit.
Over the years, Sarante alleged Lopez made inappropriate sexual remarks and advances towards other female officers including on another occasion, he ordered Police Officer Sherice Smiling to go upstairs to the female locker room and tell Police Officer Erica Rivera to “stop playing with her pussy and report to the Desk.”
According to the lawsuit, in response to Sarante’s rejection, Lopez and other police supervisors would change her assignments, fail to notify her about changes in assignments, ultimately re-assigning her to work the late tours to make her workplace intolerable. Additionally, Lopez and Police Officer Jennifer Kielb (Lopez’s paramour) began making false allegations against Sarante in an attempt to have her arrested, suspended and transferred.
“Unfortunately, sexual harassment, other forms of discrimination, retaliation and ‘supervisor immunity’ are commonplace within the NYPD. Officer Sarante is to be commended for exposing this boorish behavior in the workplace,” says Eric Sanders.
ABOUT THE SANDERS FIRM, P.C.
The Sanders Firm, P.C. offers those in the New York City area legal services related and connected to civil rights, civil service rights, criminal law and discrimination. We firmly believe in everyone’s individual rights that are described and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. We understand that our freedoms and liberties are sacrosanct and that they have been won in many and various hard-fought battles. We are committed in every way to protecting your civil rights. We are your voice for justice!
CONTACT
Eric Sanders, Esq.
President and Owner, The Sanders Firm, P.C.
Business Phone: 212-652-2782
