James Stevens, Male Victim of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in the Workplace...

James Stevens, Male Victim of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in the
Workplace By Fortune 500 Company, Vons, Looks to U.S. Supreme Court for Relief

James Stevens vs. Vons Continues to U.S. Supreme Court, Amicus Curiae Briefs
Invited from Interested Parties

NEW YORK, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Supreme Court has declined
to hear the case of James Stevens vs. Vons, a high-profile sexual harassment
case in which James Stevens won an $18.4 million ($1.67 million compensatory
and $16.7 million punitive damages) judgment from a jury in Simi Valley, CA in
Oct. 2006 after he sued his former employer, the supermarket chain, Vons, for
sexual harassment and retaliation. His harasser was his female supervisor
whose lewd sexual innuendos made the work environment intolerable for this
devout Christian.

Upon Vons' appeal, the trial court judge reduced Stevens' combined verdict to
$2.4 million. The judge then gave James a choice -- either accept the
reduction or have a completely new trial. Stevens opted to accept the
reduction while maintaining his right to appeal the judge's reduction. The
California Court of Appeal affirmed the reduction, and the California Supreme
Court declined to hear Stevens' petition for review. Stevens is now appealing
his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The judge gave me a generous choice between a hanging and a firing squad,"
said Stevens. "He made it clear that if I elected the new trial, it would be
in his court again, and I was advised that I would not win the second time. I
continue to be victimized by Vons, the trial court judge, California appellate
judges and the California Supreme Court. I have lost my family, my job and my
health insurance during this process, and much of the money I did receive has
basically gone into the case."

Ironically, the refusal comes during the month of April, recently proclaimed
by President Obama as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During the month, sexual
assault programs across the country promote public awareness of sexual assault
issues, including employees who experience sexual harassment or actual sexual
assault in the workplace.

It also comes during a time when more men are reporting sexual harassment at
work. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, cases filed
by men now make up 15.4 percent, compared to 14.3 percent in 2005 and 11.6
percent a decade ago.

"While the sexual overtones may be salacious, the fact is that sexual
harassment in the workplace is unlawful and intolerable, whether it's black on
white, woman on man, or same sex, and it's because of people like James that
laws change in the first place," said Areva Martin, Esq., employment law
attorney and managing partner of Martin & Martin, LLP, who is now representing
Stevens. "Punitive awards are important because they change corporate
behavior when they are large enough to serve as a deterrent. The reduction in
this case basically represents a slap on the wrist to Vons."

Attorney Martin and Stevens are encouraging consumer attorneys, employee
advocate groups, and civil organizations to weigh in with Amicus briefs to the
U.S. Supreme Court in support of the appeal. The number of Amicus (friends of
the court) briefs filed by organizations not party to the litigation can
affect whether or not the Court hears the case. Interested parties should
contact Atty. Martin at 213-388-4747. Families engaged in civil suits against
large corporations and who need support can call Justice, Inc., a non-profit
organization started by Stevens to help others through the process, at
877-216-1975 or visit www.getjusticeforall.org.

SOURCE James Stevens

Danette Wills, The Terrie Williams Agency, +1-917-474-4348,
danettewills@yahoo.com