A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that unpaid interns cannot sue for sexual harassment because they are not real employees.
Lihuan Wang, a 26-year-old Syracuse University graduate, lost a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former employer on the grounds that she was not paid, therefore not considered a company employee.
Wang was a 22-year-old intern at Phoenix Satellite Television U.S., the American branch of the Hong Kong-based media conglomerate, in 2009 when she says she experienced sexual advances from Zhengzhu Liu, the station’s Washington D.C. bureau chief.
According to the lawsuit, Liu allegedly lured Wang and other female interns to his hotel room under the guise of business discussions.
In the hotel room, Liu allegedly asked Wang “why are you so beautiful?” and threw his arms around her, forcing her into a kiss, while squeezing her buttocks. Wang left immediately.
New York Judge Kevin Castel wrote in his decision that Wang was not covered by the New York Human Rights Law because she was not paid, therefore not technically an employee…
Well, that seems messed up.
Read the full story at USA Today.
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