Lauren Pisciotta, a former assistant to Kanye West, is suing the rapper, music producer, and fashion designer for sexual harassment. In court documents, she alleges that West sent her sexually explicit text messages and masturbated while he was on the phone with her. Pisciotta also claims that she is owed a severance package of $3,000,000 from West after she was wrongfully terminated in 2022. The lawsuit, which was filed in early June 2024, was initially revealed by TMZ and verified by other media outlets, including US Weekly and Rolling Stone.
According to Pisciotta, she first met Kanye West in 2021, when her primary source of income was an OnlyFans account. West hired her to work for the Yeezy fashion line and collaborate on 3 tracks for his Donda album, which was released on August 2021. She was later hired to be his personal assistant on the condition that she make herself available to him “24-7.”
When she was first hired, Pisciotta said she continued to post on OnlyFans as a side business, which West was comfortable with. However, in 2022, she said that he asked her to delete the account because he wanted her to be “God-like.” She agreed because he offered her $1,000,000 as compensation, but she was soon bombarded with sexually inappropriate texts, including pornography videos. She also alleges that West touched himself when he was on the phone with her, and even masturbated in front of her while they were on his plane.
Pisciotta was promoted as the rapper’s Chief of Staff in 2022, but he abruptly fired her and never paid the severance that they agreed on, according to her lawsuit. The ex-assistant is suing West for breach of contract, unpaid wages, sexual harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
We doubt that Lauren Pisciotta is the first employee to be treated in this manner by Kanye West. By the time one victim is brave enough to come forward, there is a long and disturbing pattern of sexual harassment and other types of workplace abuse. As we have seen with the lawsuit filed by Lizzo’s former dancers last year, this type of behavior is all too common in the music industry. Understandably, most workers stay quiet about these incidents because they are afraid of losing their job and being blackballed in an industry where getting your foot in the door is notoriously difficult.
If you have been sexually abused while working for Kanye West, you know that the trauma of sexual abuse doesn’t just go away. Acknowledging what you endured and taking constructive action to heal your mind and body are essential, and filing a lawsuit can be a step in the right direction.
By contacting Normandie Law Firm, you can speak to a sexual harassment at work lawsuit attorney, who will help you explore your rights and legal options.
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History of Sexual Harassment by Kanye West
Pisciotta is not the only employee that has spoken out about lewd behavior from Kanye West, who has a tendency to make his workers uncomfortable with sexually explicit content. Last November, Rolling Stone spoke with several staff members of the Yeezy line, who said they were shown an intimate photo of West’s former wife, Kim Kardashian, during their job interview.
The employees also claim that he regularly showed pornographic movies at staff meetings, which is consistent with West own admission of having a “full on pornography addiction.” He said in an interview for Apple Music, “…Playboy was my gateway into full-on pornography addiction. My dad had a Playboy left out at age five and it’s affected almost every choice I made for the rest of my life.”
In addition, the recent lawsuit by Lauren Pisciotta, Kanye West is facing lawsuits by other employees, including former security guard Benjamin Deshon Provo. Provo, who worked at the Donda Academy, the private school founded by West, is suing due to alleged discrimination by West for being a Muslim and being threatened with termination if he did not cut his dreadlocks.
If you were subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace and sexual abuse by Kanye West, we can help you get justice through a lawsuit for monetary damages. Contact us today and talk to a lawyer with experience in workplace sexual harassment cases.
Settlement Values for a Workplace Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Federal laws place limits on how much you can recover from an employer for cases of sexual harassment. The amount of compensation available to a victim is:
- Employers with 15-100 employees – up to $50,000
- Employers with 101-200 employees – up to $100,000
- Employers with 201-500 employees – up to $200,000
- Employers with more than 500 employees – up to $300,000
Please note that factors like gross negligence (egregious level of neglect and/or willful misconduct) can result in punitive damages being awarded by the court. You should also keep in mind that the federal caps we stated above apply to sexual harassment only. Based on the details of your case, there may be grounds for additional payments, like wrongful termination and breach of contract. An employment rights lawyer at our office will go over these categories with you and ensure that you receive every penny you deserve from a lawsuit against Kanye West.
How Long Does a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Take to Settle?
Sexual harassment claims usually take anywhere from 1 to 2 years to settle based on our experience. That’s not to say that your own case won’t be settled any sooner, but as a general rule, sexual abuse in the workplace lawsuits take at least 12 months from start to finish. In some instances, a lawsuit cannot be settled, meaning it has to be tried in court. This is very rare, however, and over 95% of the time, we are able to negotiate a settlement. Nevertheless, if going to trial is the only option left, bringing you justice as a victim of sexual harassment can take more than 3 years.
Statute of Limitations to Sue an Employer for Sexual Harassment
The law in California provides you with 3 years to file a workplace sexual harassment lawsuit. Essentially, the statute of limitations begins on the most recent date of abuse, allowing victims as much time as possible to file a legal case. Before January 2020, the deadline to sue an employer for sexual harassment was 1 year. But Assembly Bill 9 extended the time limit to 3 years, so this is how long you have for a lawsuit, as long as the latest episode of sexual harassment occurred on or before January 2022.
Contact a Lawyer Who can Help You Sue for Sexual Harassment
Filing a lawsuit is optional, and it’s not always right for everyone. But you can’t make that decision without reliable advice from a sexual abuse lawsuit attorney. We understand how uncomfortable it is to talk about the abuse you suffered, but we promise to treat you with the respect, honor, and compassion you deserve.
Our goal is to fight for the highest possible settlement on your behalf, while making sure that your finances are never affected. At our law firm, we operate under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so you pay nothing to hire a lawyer who can sue Kanye West for sexual harassment. Instead, all legal fees will be covered by the defendant at the end of your case, and only if we bring you payment from a successful lawsuit.
To schedule a free case evaluation for incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace, contact our office as soon as possible.
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