Raleigh employment attorney says calls up 500 percent since start of #MeToo

Since the #MeToo movement took off in October, it seems not a week has gone by that another celebrity is facing accusations of sexual misconduct.

Victims of sexual harassment in North Carolina have very few options in the courts, but a local attorney is hoping that will change.

Laura Noble thinks a lot of people have some misconceptions about sexual harassment lawsuits.

"The public thinks that all that needs to happen is someone repeatedly asks you out for a cup of coffee, or someone says, 'nice outfit,' and you have a claim for sexual harassment," she said. "And some people think maybe we've gone too far."

In reality, Noble says, the opposite is true. Public perception of sexual harassment may have changed, but federal and state laws have not. North Carolina still doesn't have a law against it.

"If you have the terrible misfortune to be sexually harassed in North Carolina at an employer that has less than 15 employees, you literally have no claim in North Carolina," Noble said. "You don't have a federal claim, and you don't have a state law claim. And that's wrong."

If a victim works at a larger employer, they can file a claim under federal statute, Noble said. But that's more difficult, more complicated and more expensive. As a result, many people don't follow through.

In the meantime, Noble said calls to her office about sexual harassment have increased 500 percent since coverage of the stories began appearing in the news media last fall.

She says lawmakers in other states voted to strengthen their harassment laws. She's disappointed that North Carolina lawmakers didn't at least make it illegal here.

"I guess I'm always an optimist, and I thought the outpouring of people who were supporting sexual harassment victims would have moved our legislators to act in some way," Noble said.

Only one bill was filed this session that even mentioned sexual harassment. That measure would have required state lawmakers and staff to receive training on the issue. However, the training was put in place administratively, so the bill was never heard in committee.

Noble said she is hoping lawmakers will return to the issue when they reconvene in November.