Case Name: Williamson v. City of Houston Citation: 148 F. 3d 462
Date Decided: 1998
Facts: A female police officer, Williamson, sued the City of Houston under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in which she alleged she was subjected to sexual harassment, and thereafter retaliation for reporting the harassing behavior. The female officer further alleged the behavior created a hostile work environment. Williamson maintains she was subjected to sexual harassment in the form of sexually explicit comments and behavior after transferring into the division. The individual engaging in the offensive behavior was her male partner, Officer Doug McLeod. Williamson stated the behavior continued for eighteen months and was comprised of unwelcomed physical contact and humiliating comments about her body and her appearance. Williamson asserted she informed McLeod that his behavior was offensive and on numerous occasions she asked him to stop. He refused to comply with her request for him to cease his behavior. Therefore, she informed their supervisor, Sergeant James Bozeman. Williamson alleged she voiced her complaint to their supervisor on multiple occasions. However, McLeod’s behavior was not addressed and it did not change; as such Williamson eventually sought and received a transfer out of the division. Williamson lodged a formal internal complaint with the Internal Affairs Division which resulted in
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The court also ordered the city to pay her attorney’s fees. The city appealed the ruling based on the grounds that they were not notified of the harassing behavior until after Williamson filed an internal complaint. Specifically, the city contended it could not be held liable for any knowledge the officer’s supervisor had regarding the sexual harassing conduct. The appellant court upheld the lower court’s