Stockett v. Tolin

Michelle Stockett (plaintiff), 29, worked for companies owned and run by Frank Tolin (defendant), 71, who routinely groped her, pressed against her, licked her neck and ears, and made explicit sexual comments toward her over more than a year; Stockett resisted his advances throughout but stayed because she needed the job and wanted industry experience. Numerous coworkers witnessed Tolin's harassment of Stockett and other female employees. When Tolin threatened to fire her if she didn't sleep with him, Stockett quit and sued for Title VII violations along with battery, invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, presenting evidence of lasting psychological and physical harm.