A lawsuit was recently filed against the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg by a former employee of Catholic Charities alleging sexual harassment by the interim executive director.

Represented by Donna V. Smith, a partner at Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A., Abdelaziz Abdelmunim claims that Margaret Rogers made unwanted sexual advances toward him during his time of employment. Rogers was his direct supervisor at Catholic Charities.

Mr. Abdelmunim was hired in July 2015. In the details of the lawsuit, he alleges that the first instances of sexual harassment took place approximately two months after he began working there. Similar to other cases of this type, the actions, according to the plaintiff, progressed in severity. In the text of the lawsuit, he said that “unwanted offensive touching escalated to unwanted touching of private parts.”

In addition, Mr. Abdelmunim also alleges that she “described vivid descriptions and details of her sexual life.” Other offenses/harassment claimed by the plaintiff include Rogers sending him texts and photos that were “of a sexual nature.”

The sexual harassment continued over an extended period of time, according to the lawsuit. Mr. Abdelmunim, out of a fear of being fired, did not immediately report the actions to the human resource officer at Catholic Charities. On Dec. 7, 2017, he was terminated from his position with the organization.

He is now suing the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg for compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as other damages to include compensation for emotional distress. He is also seeking reinstatement to a comparable job that he previously had with the organization — helping refugees as a Program Manager. Mr. Abdelmunim has requested a trial by jury.

Employee Rights Attorneys Fight for the Rights of Workers Against Sexual Harassment

Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A. is dedicated to fighting for the rights of employees. Sexual harassment is not only wrong; it is also against the law. Unfortunately, unwanted sexual advances like this one are still a common occurrence across industries and job types. But that is what employee rights lawyers are for. Employers and individuals in power should be held accountable for unlawful behavior of any kind — from sexual harassment to age discrimination.

Large organizations have lawyers and employees have the right to have appropriate legal representation too. If you have had your rights violated in the workplace, know you are not alone. We are fighting hard for Mr. Abdelmunim, and have helped thousands of other workers across Florida.

If you have been sexually harassed, discriminated against, or had your rights as an employee violated in other ways such as unpaid wages, contact us to set up a free confidential consultation. We are here for you.

We fight for the rights of employees across the state of Florida including Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville.

Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A. helps employees who have been wronged by employers make great decisions about their legal issues. We are experienced in protecting employees from sexual harassment, discrimination, and much more.<?p>

Please Note: At the time this article was written, the information contained within it was current based on the prevailing law at the time. Laws and precedents are subject to change, so this information may not be up to date. Always speak with a law firm regarding any legal situation to get the most current information available.