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Ex-Employee Suing Realty Company Was Too Ugly To Sexually Harass, Owner Says
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 11, 2011
Modified Aug 11, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 11, 2011
Modified Aug 11, 2011
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A 23-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against her former Williamsburg real estate company claiming that she was routinely physically and verbally sexually harassed. Priscilla Agosto says male co-workers exposed themselves, rubbed up against her and asked for oral sex during her 14 months at People's Choice Realty. But the owner of the firm says it isn't true... because Agosto is too ugly to harass: "Who would touch her? She's an ugly girl anyway. She made up a story because she didn't want to work."
Owner Odelia Berlianshik denied all the charges, and sounded wholly unmoved by Agosto's story—including a claim that co-workers offered her $500 to watch her have sex with her girlfriend. Berlianshik does admit that an employee slapped Agosto across the face, which prompted her to quit; but Berlianshik claimed the worker was instructed to say he's sorry: "He apologized and offered to buy her lunch."
Agosto, the former secretary at the real estate company, said at least seven male employees made lewd advances at her between January 2008 and March 2009, even after she complained to her bosses. She told the News, "I hope and pray that by sharing my story, anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation will have the courage to speak up." You can see a picture of her here...and besides her Chloe Sevigny-in-Big Love outfit, we don't really see what her boss was talking about.
Tagged
brooklyn
lawsuit
real estate
sexual harassment
ugly
williamsburg
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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