Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals turns away claim of employee who claimed a sexually hostile work environment

This week the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, based in Richmond, Virginia, rejected the appeal of a former employee who claimed that she had been the victim of constant discrimination, harassment, assault, and subjection to a sexually hostile work environment. For the three-judge panel in the case of Balas v. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., more important than the woman’s claim of sex discrimination was her falsified time card concealing an hour in which she did not work. The plaintiff had asked for leave to amend her complaint but leave was denied. Takeaway: If you are the victim of sexual harassment at work, complain about it now to someone who will listen and insist that action be taken. Do not wait until you are fired for some other reason to pursue your legal claims or the courts will be skeptical.