Zillow Sexual Harassment Suit
Zillow Sexual Harassment Suit
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MARK J. GERAGOS
BEN J. MEISELAS
GREG KIRAKOSIAN
TYLER M. ROSS
SBN 108325
SBN 277412
SBN 294580
SBN 292263
SAMINI SCHEINBERG, PC
BOBBY SAMINI
SBN 181796
MATTHEW M. HOESLY SBN 289593
949 S Coast Dr., Suite 420
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Telephone: (949) 724-0900
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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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INTRODUCTION
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Defendant Zillow, Inc. (Zillow) on June 25, 2012 as an Inside Sales Consultant.
Ms. Kremer quickly learned that Zillow had a pervasive culture of degrading women.
Ms. Kremers male supervisors ranked her according to her breast size, sent pictures
of their penis to her, and demanded sexual gratification and obedience by Ms. Kremer
Zillow executives bragged that the office culture led to more sexual encounters than
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Match.com and referred to the internal office directory as Zinder, named after the
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dating application Tinder. Sadly, for Ms. Kremer, by not participating in this culture,
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she felt she would be outcast, and terminated. Eventually, after experiencing the most
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heinous acts of sexual harassment imaginable, Ms. Kremer was terminated. Zillow
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agreement and release. Ms. Kremer brings this action based on the sexual torture she
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endured, and for the other women who have been silenced at Zillow, and remain
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Privately,
PARTIES
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an online home and real estate marketplace for homebuyers, sellers, renters, real estate
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agents, mortgage professionals, landlords, and property managers. Zillow claims its
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database contains more than 110 million U.S. homes. Zillow also operates the largest
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named herein as Does 1 through 50, inclusive, and therefore sues said Defendants by
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such fictitious names. Plaintiff will seek leave of Court to amend this Complaint to
allege the true names and capacities of said Defendants when the same are
ascertained. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that each of the
happenings and occurrences hereinafter alleged, and the Plaintiffs damages and
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This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1332
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interest and costs and because Defendant is incorporated and has its principal place of
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business in a state other than the state in which the named Plaintiff resides.
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This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining common law
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substantial part of the events giving rise to Plaintiffs claims occurred in the Central
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District of California.
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
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employment.
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on numerous occasions. These managers later retaliated against Ms. Kremer because
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Zillow manager with the subject line Doc Johnson Mood Flirty
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sex toy. A true and correct copy of this email is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
b. On or about December 27, 2012, Ms. Kremer sent a text message to Gabe
Hy Lam. A true and correct copy of this text message is attached hereto
as Exhibit B.
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him later that evening. The message reads: Call me. Matt is showering.
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active late-night bar scene. A true and correct copy of this text message
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from Mr. Schmidt which reads: Wanna blow me and have sex tonight?
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Salesforce picture when youre not there. A true and correct copy of
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Mr. Schmidts phone) sent a series of text messages wherein Mr. Fagnant
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invited Ms. Kremer to join him that evening. One noteworthy excerpt
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from Mr. Fagnant reads: I have a great opportunity that just opened up
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exclusive position and wont last long. A true and correct copy of these
g. On or about June 11, 2014, Mr. Schmidt sent a picture of his genitalia to
Ms. Kremer with other lewd commentary. A true and correct copy of
were commonplace during Ms. Kremers employment. Indeed, the Zillow office
culture in Southern California has been described as an adult frat house where
sexual harassment and misconduct are normalized, condoned, and promoted by male
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managers.
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For example, Mr. Fagnant would corner Ms. Kremer when he was
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belligerently drunk to tell her, I want to fuck the shit out of you. Mr. Fagnant made
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this statement once on July 26, 2013, and again on September 28, 2013.
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female sales representatives. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and based thereon
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alleges, that Mr. Fagnant was having sexual relations with a sales representative in
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Seattle.
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employee as Rachel 2.0, since, as he explained, she was like Rachel but with
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her duties and consistently met sales goals and other criteria established by Zillow.
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Ms. Kremer was recognized several times for excelling in the performance of her
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duties.
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performance, and in July and August 2014, she was unable to meet her stated sales
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goals.
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Cornelious, John Boller and Justin Lejouie that her employment with Zillow was
being terminated due to her failure to meet her sales goals for the two preceding
months. Ms. Kremer was never provided any warning or given an opportunity to
explain the decline in her work performance, which was completely inconsistent with
Zillows own practices. In fact, another Zillow employee from Ms. Kremers hire
class was not terminated even though the employees job performance was nearly
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SEXUAL HARASSMENT
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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(a) A person is liable in a cause of action for sexual harassment under this
section when the plaintiff proves all of the following elements:
(1) There is a business, service, or professional relationship between the
plaintiff and defendant. Such a relationship may exist between a plaintiff
and a person . . .
(2) The defendant has made sexual advances, solicitations, sexual
requests, demands for sexual compliance by the plaintiff, or engaged in
other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature or of a hostile
nature based on gender, that were unwelcome and pervasive or severe.
(3) There is an inability by the plaintiff to easily terminate the
relationship.
(4) The plaintiff has suffered or will suffer economic loss or disadvantage
or personal injury, including, but not limited to, emotional distress or the
violation of a statutory or constitutional right, as a result of the conduct
described in paragraph (2).
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with Plaintiff where there was an inability by Plaintiff to easily terminate the
sexual compliance by Plaintiff, and engaged in other verbal, visual, and physical
conduct of a sexual and hostile nature based on gender that were unwelcome by
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intent to cause harmful and offensive contact to Plaintiffs body. As described above,
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hostile work environment for Plaintiff by sending her inappropriate emails, text
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messages, pictures, by physically intimidating her with the intent to engage in sexual
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representatives unlawful conduct and behavior as described herein by: (1) allowing
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an adult frat house culture to exist in its Orange County office; (2) continuing to pay
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the unlawful conduct described herein; and (3) failing to report the unlawful conduct
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acts of Defendant Zillow and its respective agents, servants, employees, and
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authorized representatives as aforesaid, Plaintiff has suffered past and future special
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damages and past and future general damages in an amount according to proof at trial.
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Plaintiff has been damaged emotionally and financially, including but not limited to
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emotional suffering from emotional distress and ridicule, as well as loss of income,
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its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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CIVIL HARASSMENT
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose, thus constituting civil
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person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and [did] actually cause substantial
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section 527.6(b).
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representatives unlawful conduct and behavior as described herein by: (1) allowing
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an adult frat house culture to exist in its Orange County office; (2) continuing to pay
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the unlawful conduct described herein; and (3) failing to report the unlawful conduct
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emotional distress.
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acts of Defendant Zillow and its respective agents, servants, employees, and
authorized representatives as aforesaid, Plaintiff has suffered past and future special
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damages and past and future general damages in an amount according to proof at trial.
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Plaintiff has been damaged emotionally and financially, including but not limited to
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emotional suffering from emotional distress and ridicule, as well as loss of income,
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its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
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fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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and Defendants acted with a reckless disregard to the probability that Plaintiff would
representatives unlawful conduct and behavior as described herein by: (1) allowing
an adult frat house culture to exist in its Orange County office; (2) continuing to pay
the unlawful conduct described herein; and (3) failing to report the unlawful conduct
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HISTORIC ENGINE CO. NO. 28
644 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90017-3411
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emotional distress.
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acts of Defendant Zillow and its respective agents, servants, employees, and
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authorized representatives as aforesaid, Plaintiff has suffered past and future special
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damages and past and future general damages in an amount according to proof at trial.
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Plaintiff has been damaged emotionally and financially, including but not limited to
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emotional suffering from emotional distress and ridicule, as well as loss of income,
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its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
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fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
regard to the health, safety, and rights of Plaintiff. It was foreseeable and probable
that Plaintiff would suffer severe emotional distress from Defendants conduct.
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HISTORIC ENGINE CO. NO. 28
644 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90017-3411
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Plaintiff when Defendant Zillow and its agents, employees, and representatives
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repeatedly abused, harassed, and insulted Plaintiff, and Defendant Zillow was aware
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continue.
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representatives unlawful conduct and behavior as described herein by: (1) allowing
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an adult frat house culture to exist in its Orange County office; (2) continuing to pay
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the unlawful conduct described herein; and (3) failing to report the unlawful conduct
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emotional distress.
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acts of Defendant Zillow and its respective agents, servants, employees, and
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authorized representatives as aforesaid, Plaintiff has suffered past and future special
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damages and past and future general damages in an amount according to proof at trial.
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Plaintiff has been damaged emotionally and financially, including but not limited to
emotional suffering from emotional distress and ridicule, as well as loss of income,
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its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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Defendant Zillow has a duty to retain employees who are fit and
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persons from the predictable and foreseeable risks posed by their employees.
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have known, that Plaintiffs superiors and colleagues were incompetent and unfit to
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perform the duties for which they were employed, and that undue risks to persons
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such as Plaintiff would result by way of their inappropriate conduct. The conduct of
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retaining and failing to supervise Plaintiffs supervisors and colleagues, who had
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misconduct towards females with whom they worked. The conduct towards Plaintiff
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was foreseeable based on the reputation that the Southern California Zillow office was
known as an adult frat house and based on Defendant Zillows male employees
treatment towards other female employees. Defendant Zillow had knowledge of such
conduct. Defendant Zillow breached its duty of care by failing to implement measures
to protect third persons from foreseeable risks, unreasonable risks of harm, and the
Zillow failed to terminate the above mentioned employees or take any disciplinary
action against them, but retained them and allowed them to continue victimizing
Plaintiff so that it may continue to reap the financial rewards of their conduct.
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mentioned employees was the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiffs injuries.
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Plaintiff has suffered past and future special damages and past and future general
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physically, emotionally, and financially, including, but not limited to suffering from
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RETALIATION
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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offensive conduct as described herein by reporting the conduct, and demanding that it
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be stopped.
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offensive conduct as described herein and reporting it was a motivating reason for her
termination in violation of Government Code Section 12940 (h) and for continued
harassment.
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representatives unlawful conduct and behavior as described herein by: (1) allowing
an adult frat house culture to exist in its Orange County office; (2) continuing to pay
the unlawful conduct described herein; and (3) failing to report the unlawful conduct
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harm and economic damages for loss of past and future earnings and employee
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benefits, loss of earning capacity, loss of such employment related opportunities as the
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its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
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fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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WRONGFUL TERMINATION
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every allegation contained above and incorporates the same herein by this reference as
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other offensive conduct described herein during her employment with Defendant
Zillow.
Defendant Zillow terminated Plaintiffs employment on or around
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Plaintiffs
gender
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opposition
to
the
sexual
harassment,
discrimination, and other offensive conduct described herein were motivating reasons
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likelihood that Plaintiff would suffer severe emotional distress as a result of the
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Defendant Zillow its employees was done intentionally and for the purpose of
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intolerable working conditions and failed to take appropriate remedial steps to protect
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Plaintiff was harmed and the requirement that she endure sexual
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harassment, discrimination, and other offensive conduct as described herein during the
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Further, Plaintiff was harmed in that she was terminated without notice,
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violation of and inconsistent with Defendant Zillows own internal procedures and
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practices.
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public policy embodied in Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA),
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outrageous conduct, Plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer damages, including lost
its agents, servants, employees, and authorized representatives acted with malice,
fraud, and oppression and/or in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs health, rights, and
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HISTORIC ENGINE CO. NO. 28
644 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90017-3411
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