What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
I was recently told that since the organization I'm suing is a nonprofit, they probably have a pro bono attorney. Interesting, because I based the dollar amount of my suit partly on the basis of an estimate of how much I thought the lawyers are paid. I am trying to avoid going to court. What I'm trying to do is save my reputation, because I'm trying to open a business. So I figured a settlement would do, even if it were for little money. (I'm suing pro se in small claims court--$10,000.) Now I'm wondering about the likelihood that we will settle out of court.
I'm also wondering if I'm suing the right person. My lawsuit involves slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Can I sue an organization for those causes of action or must I sue a particular person or sue people? The complaint was before the Commission on Human Relations before a lawyer told me that State Court was a better option because the Commission really couldn't force the organization to do anything and because the fines were so small. Proving my case is a matter of issuing subpoenas and hoping that some people come clean in front of a judge and jury. For a lack of a better description, in many ways the defendant(s) was dumb. Their employees used their own members to harass me by telling them lies, such as I said fat people are fat because they don't exercise and that I got into a fight in the locker room because forgot to take my medication) and continued to even after they were told to stop it. They let too many people in on it. (I know it sounds crazy, but I am sane.)
Basically, the problem revolves around my having filed a sexual harassment complaint and the person I file against then asking colleagues to help harass me out of the place. The organization mishandled it, and it eventually moved into threats of violence and assaults. My being assaulted. (The employees encourage another member to attack me in the locker room. I have a witness, who was trapped into a corner with me.) Everything got out of hand really fast and ended up far worse than I imagined it would. I stayed for three reasons: (1) It is one of two gyms that has a program called SilverSneakers. (I do have a disability and the gym knew it when I registered.) My health insurance pays the membership fee. One of my harassers work for the other gym, also. Most of the staff work in other gyms, and I am diabetic. (2) After the staff instigated a fight between me and another member in May, I had to keep the membership to file a complaint or lawsuit. The witnesses are members. (3) Locations.
So that's an overview of my lawsuit.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I was recently told that since the organization I'm suing is a nonprofit, they probably have a pro bono attorney. Interesting, because I based the dollar amount of my suit partly on the basis of an estimate of how much I thought the lawyers are paid. I am trying to avoid going to court. What I'm trying to do is save my reputation, because I'm trying to open a business. So I figured a settlement would do, even if it were for little money. (I'm suing pro se in small claims court--$10,000.) Now I'm wondering about the likelihood that we will settle out of court.
I'm also wondering if I'm suing the right person. My lawsuit involves slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Can I sue an organization for those causes of action or must I sue a particular person or sue people? The complaint was before the Commission on Human Relations before a lawyer told me that State Court was a better option because the Commission really couldn't force the organization to do anything and because the fines were so small. Proving my case is a matter of issuing subpoenas and hoping that some people come clean in front of a judge and jury. For a lack of a better description, in many ways the defendant(s) was dumb. Their employees used their own members to harass me by telling them lies, such as I said fat people are fat because they don't exercise and that I got into a fight in the locker room because forgot to take my medication) and continued to even after they were told to stop it. They let too many people in on it. (I know it sounds crazy, but I am sane.)
Basically, the problem revolves around my having filed a sexual harassment complaint and the person I file against then asking colleagues to help harass me out of the place. The organization mishandled it, and it eventually moved into threats of violence and assaults. My being assaulted. (The employees encourage another member to attack me in the locker room. I have a witness, who was trapped into a corner with me.) Everything got out of hand really fast and ended up far worse than I imagined it would. I stayed for three reasons: (1) It is one of two gyms that has a program called SilverSneakers. (I do have a disability and the gym knew it when I registered.) My health insurance pays the membership fee. One of my harassers work for the other gym, also. Most of the staff work in other gyms, and I am diabetic. (2) After the staff instigated a fight between me and another member in May, I had to keep the membership to file a complaint or lawsuit. The witnesses are members. (3) Locations.
So that's an overview of my lawsuit.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?