You Have the Right to a Safe and Respectful Workplace — Even If the Harassment Isn’t Face-to-Face WorkRight Law, APC is Here to Stand with You
On May 23, 2025, the California Court of Appeal issued a powerful reminder in Carranza v. City of Los Angeles (CA2/7 B327196, partially published) that employees are entitled to protection from sexual harassment and hostile work environments — even when they are not physically present for the harassing conduct.
In this case, LAPD Captain Carranza discovered that a sexually explicit photo falsely labeled as her was being circulated among Los Angeles Police Department personnel. Captain Carranza did not take this lightly. She immediately asked the Department to issue a notice making it clear the photo was not of her and to order all employees to stop sharing it. Shockingly, the LAPD refused to take any action.
A jury later found that Carranza had been subjected to severe or pervasive sexual harassment and that the LAPD failed to take reasonable steps to prevent or stop it, as required by California law. The jury awarded her $4 million in noneconomic damages, recognizing the emotional distress and hostile environment she was forced to endure — even though she never directly saw the photo being shared.
The appellate court upheld this decision, emphasizing that an employer can be held liable for harassment if:
The conduct was severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment, and
The employer knew or should have known about the harassment but did nothing to stop it.
This ruling makes it clear: You don’t have to witness harassment directly to be a victim of it. If coworkers are circulating harmful rumors or explicit materials, or if false and demeaning images are shared about you — you have rights. Your employer is legally obligated to take action.
Are You Facing a Hostile Work Environment? You’re Not Alone — and You Don’t Have to Fight Alone.
At WorkRight Law, APC, we fight for workers who are:
Ignored when they report harassment or retaliation
Subjected to rumors, online harassment, or false accusations
Working in environments where management looks the other way
Consultations are free and confidential. There’s no cost to find out if you have a case—and it could mean thousands of dollars back in your pocket.
Contact us today:
Phone: (562) 760-8803
Website: www.WorkRightLaw.com
Whether you’re experiencing sexual harassment, retaliation, or a hostile work culture — you deserve better. We represent employees across California in standing up to employers who violate their duty to protect their workers.
