https://maclenstanleylaw.com Maclen Stanley Law Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:10:39 +0000 https://maclenstanleylaw.com en https://maclenstanleylaw.com/image-1 Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:41:31 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/image-1 Harvard Trained Attorney Securing Justice for Victims of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, and Gender Discrimination. https://maclenstanleylaw.com/statement Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:43:56 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/statement Maclen Stanleyfounded this law firm... for the explicit purpose of bringing justice to those who have been victimized by sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender discrimination. Unlike most attorneys who take on a wide range of cases, Maclen focuses only on these types of claims. This has allowed him to develop an expertise that few other attorneys can match.Maclen first cultivated his passion for these areas of the law while earning his degree at Harvard Law School and working with the school’s gender violence clinical workshop. After graduation, Maclen worked at one of the nation’s most renowned law firms and litigated against some of the world’s largest companies. From these experiences, Maclen has developed a unique skill set and the tenacity to take cases to trial whenever the need arises. <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e85a757e9f12f166b2c3c911e1dc2e19d302bcab345cabdf6a213bf66e75d02/IMG_1059.jpeg" data-mid="62018809" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e85a757e9f12f166b2c3c911e1dc2e19d302bcab345cabdf6a213bf66e75d02/IMG_1059.jpeg" /> https://maclenstanleylaw.com/facebook-1 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:10:39 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/facebook-1 Visit Facebook to see Maclen’s latest cases and articles&nbsp;︎ https://maclenstanleylaw.com/practiceareas Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:43:19 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/practiceareas Practice Areas: <img width="4001" height="3000" width_o="4001" height_o="3000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b455f8fd7c02aee9ee7eacc79ee3b1612ddf709e89332caad47dea9824bc8b7/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-01.png" data-mid="62021388" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b455f8fd7c02aee9ee7eacc79ee3b1612ddf709e89332caad47dea9824bc8b7/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-01.png" /> <img width="4001" height="3000" width_o="4001" height_o="3000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fc753edca19f61aa77c49bc392e543ec5ed7b9f4a1251d3eee2fb762e9e669c0/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-02.png" data-mid="62021389" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fc753edca19f61aa77c49bc392e543ec5ed7b9f4a1251d3eee2fb762e9e669c0/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-02.png" /> <img width="4001" height="3000" width_o="4001" height_o="3000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16a118ae52b7fa280a3122dfd745d71a10fe40a993f27ad496376f998d166b5e/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-03.png" data-mid="62021390" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/16a118ae52b7fa280a3122dfd745d71a10fe40a993f27ad496376f998d166b5e/MS_Graphics_Branding_Icons-03.png" /> https://maclenstanleylaw.com/whythough Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:58:50 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/whythough Why choose Maclen?Being a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender discrimination can be a traumatic and emotionally-charged experience. Maclen prides himself on offering a comfortable and safe environment to discuss your claims. Consultations are always free, non-pressured, and involve zero obligations. Fierce advocate for victims. ︎ Understanding and compassionate approach.︎ Harvard trained.︎ Experienced litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. ︎ Available for clients 24/7.︎ No fee unless we win. ︎ NO ONE will fight harder for your case. ︎ https://maclenstanleylaw.com/testimonials Wed, 26 Feb 2020 05:01:10 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/testimonials Testimonials: “I was hesitant to speak with an attorney because I didn’t even think anyone would take me seriously. But Maclen made me feel comfortable and fought hard for me. I got a settlement I’m completely thrilled with.”A.C. “I’ve dealt with several lawyers in the past and Maclen was the most capable and hardworking lawyer I’ve ever had.”J.S. https://maclenstanleylaw.com/maclen Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:50:10 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/maclen <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6b1e2f5996bc950f5fc83cf5986318536eae5c3c7f300384ec5a9f2c3863cf41/IMG_1281.jpeg" data-mid="62011227" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6b1e2f5996bc950f5fc83cf5986318536eae5c3c7f300384ec5a9f2c3863cf41/IMG_1281.jpeg" /> Education and Experience Harvard law school w/ honors Harvard’s Graduate School of EducationEd.M. in Psychology Cornell University B.S. in Psychology Before starting this law firm, Maclen worked for Kirkland &amp; Ellis, the most profitable law firm in the world. There, Maclen received training from some of the best attorneys in the nation while fighting against some of the country’s largest companies. Prior to his career in the law, Maclen worked in the field of psychology. He has published several peer reviewed scientific articles in psychological journals, written for Psychology Today Magazine, and also taught courses in psychology at Tompkins-Cortland Community College in New York. Maclen believes that his knowledge in psychology and experience as a teacher gives him a unique advantage not only when litigating cases, but also when offering a compassionate and understanding environment for his clients. https://maclenstanleylaw.com/values Fri, 06 Mar 2020 03:21:05 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/values Core Values: 1 Client Investment One common thought in legal practice, particularly among older attorneys and established law firms, is that a lawyer shouldn’t get emotionally invested in a client’s case. Maclen completely disagrees with this sentiment. Maclen chose to fight against sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender discrimination precisely because these are the areas of law that ignite his work with a sense of purpose and passion. He doesn’t think lawyers always need to approach cases in a robotic and black-and-white fashion. It’s beneficial to get a little bit angry in response to the terrible experiences of his clients. Maclen channels his emotions into more ferocious and tenacious advocacy. 2Availability and Transparency Many lawyers tout the phrase “Available 24/7” but very few lawyers actually deliver on this proclaimed availability. The reality is that most law firms are too big and take on too many cases to devote that sort of individualized attention to every client. Maclen is different. He’s never “not” working. His legal practice is his passion and he is continuously at work, day or night, weekday or weekend, for his clients. Additionally, most law firms actually use assistants or paralegals for the majority of client contact. But Maclen is not only the sole attorney at his firm- he’s the sole employee! Clients of Maclen communicate exclusively with him throughout every single step of the process—from the initial phone call all the way through the resolution of the case. Because Maclen is a solo practitioner, he only takes on a very limited number of cases at one time. This allows him to develop a familiarity with the facts of every case and a genuine relationship with each client. He keeps his clients continuously apprised of every new development in their case and ensure that the process is proceeding in the direction of the client’s wishes. 3 Willing to Fight at Every Level Maclen went to law school to go to court and take cases to trial. He loves true trial work. But the reality is that the vast majority of all civil lawsuits result in a financial settlement. Undoubtedly, this is the quickest and easiest form of resolution in a case. Most clients prefer settlement and Maclen is always happy to settle a case for a large financial reward. The key here is that the opposing party will often settle for much higher amounts when there is an active threat of trial on the table. Trials are extremely expensive, time-consuming, and require a unique expertise. When attorneys on the opposing side know that Maclen is ready and willing to take the case to court, settlement dynamics completely change. And remember- trials are extremely expensive only for the other side. Maclen works exclusively on a contingency basis, which means you never pay for his work until you receive a financial reward. https://maclenstanleylaw.com/locations Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:11:49 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/locations Los Angeles Ventura County Orange County San Diego Maclen can handle cases from clients in any city in California. He typically works with clients virtually and via phone to increase his client’s accessibility and streamline efficiency. https://maclenstanleylaw.com/areas Wed, 26 Feb 2020 02:35:52 +0000 Maclen Stanley Law https://maclenstanleylaw.com/areas See what claims Maclen can handle for you. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is a very common and insidious problem in California and throughout the United States. Studies show that more than 75% of women will experience sexual harassment during their lifetime. Victims of sexual harassment often suffer significant emotion effects such as anger, fear, humiliation, powerlessness, and even guilt. These emotional effects can result in diminished mental and physical health. Sexual harassment should never be dismissed or viewed as simply “part of life.” Rather, sexual harassment is a genuine offense for which victims are entitled to justice. Sexual harassment can take many different forms. Some examples include: Requests for sexual favors Repeated and unwanted sexual advances Unwanted physical contact Verbal comments of a sexual nature, including jokes referring to sexual acts or sexual orientation Commentary about sexual experiences in inappropriate contexts Exposing oneself Frequent stares and suggestive looks Sending explicit photos or text messages Sometimes harassment is only evident when looking at a pattern of behavior, whereas other times it’s blatantly obvious. California law has very broad protections for victims of sexual harassment. Civil lawsuits for sexual harassment can be filed against your boss, co-worker, landlord, therapist, doctor, teacher, police officer, and many others. Because sexual harassment can occur in such a broad spectrum of actions, it is important that you discuss your experiences with a skilled sexual harassment attorney. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Most sexual harassment claims arise from actions that occur in the workplace. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act are the two foundational laws that protect employees from sexual harassment. Two types of sexual harassment can occur at work: (1) quid pro quo and (2) hostile work environment. Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase that means “this for that.” This type of sexual harassment occurs when a supervisor or agent of the employer offers an employee some sort of job benefit in exchange for a sexual act. For example, a supervisor promising not to reprimand an employee in exchange for a sexual act constitutes quid pro quo sexual harassment. Employee benefits can also include things like favorable performance reviews, promotions, raises, sought after shifts and clients, and even the initial hiring. Hostile work environments can result from sexual harassment that is frequent and pervasive. For example, a co-worker asking you out on a daily basis can amount to a hostile work environment. Unlike quid pro quo harassment, a hostile environment can be caused by an employee at any level. Thus, a co-worker who engages in persistent sexual jokes, displays of inappropriate material, or unwanted physical contact can also create a hostile work environment. Many other types of actions can create a hostile work environment, so long as they occur frequently and cause you emotional distress. Retaliation is also an important basis for a lawsuit. Employees who have the courage to report instances of sexual harassment sometimes face retaliation in response. It is strictly illegal for any employer to retaliate against an employee for reporting sexual harassment. Retaliation can be seen in actions such as demotions, lower performance evaluations, transfers of position, increased scrutiny, and physical or verbal abuse. Importantly, the information discussed above does not provide a complete list of the laws surrounding sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can occur in so many instances and in so many different ways that is impossible to explain it all on one webpage. If you suspect that you have been sexually harassed, you should contact Maclen to discuss your experiences and the applicable laws. Sexual Assault Millions of people are impacted by sexual assaults each year in the United States. Current estimates suggest that someone in America is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds. Few crimes are more heinous than rape and sexual assault. Such crimes can affect every aspect of a victim’s life, from their relationships and professional endeavors to their mental health and psychical well-being. And yet, around 97% of all rapists will never spend a day in jail. This is for two main reasons. First, sometimes rapists are shielded from the criminal law by high evidentiary burdens and prosecutors who are unwilling to devote time and energy to closing a case. Second, only around 25% sexual assaults are ever reported to police. Although all survivors are encouraged to report sexual assaults to law enforcement, other avenues for justice exist in the civil system. The Difference Between the Criminal System and Civil System In criminal cases, a prosecutor from the district attorney’s office will file charges against the perpetrator. Although it is necessary to bring criminal charges in order to put a perpetrator of sexual assault in prison, sometimes what is best for the criminal case is not always best for the survivor. In many ways, civil cases are more victim-friendly compared to the criminal cases. The survivor is the plaintiff and wields all the power in the lawsuit (rather than the prosecutor in a criminal action). The survivor decides whether to file a case, how far for proceed with it, when to settle the case, and what to settle for. Financial compensation is often the main goal of a civil lawsuit, but is not the only factor that can be included in a settlement agreement. The civil system allows for very broad and inclusive settlements. Survivors can reach a settlement with their perpetrator that requires them to transfer jobs, refrain from contact, move from their residence, attend counseling, and even issue a formal apology. Importantly, the burden of proof for a civil case is less than what criminal courts require. This means that a perpetrator of sexual assault is more likely to be found guilty in a civil case compared to a criminal case. This is of great consequence in cases of sexual assault where sometimes the majority of evidence rests solely in the testimony of the survivor. Targeting Third-Parties in a Lawsuit Civil cases also allow the survivor to sue any relevant third-parties for financial compensation. Often, this greatly increases the financial reward a survivor will receive. Third parties such as employers, premises owners, and security companies are often found liable for a sexual assault. For example, if a victim was raped by a co-worker, an employer can be at fault for failing to investigate the co-worker’s history of rape and assault, or failing to thoroughly investigate complaints that could have helped prevent the rape. Likewise, property owners have a duty of care to their visitors, guests, and patrons and must take steps to protected individuals from sexual assaults. Does a Criminal Case Affect My Civil Case? The short answer is: no. Criminal cases and civil cases often occur simultaneously, but sometimes survivors only choose to file a civil case. Whether or not your local district attorney has decided to file criminal charges against your perpetrator has no effect on your civil case. Even the outcome of a criminal case has no effect. As a famous example, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty in criminal court, but still held liable in civil court. Contact Maclen if you have experienced a sexual assault and would like to discuss your case with a skilled and compassionate attorney. Gender Discrimination Sex and gender discrimination are closely tied, yet they have two distinct meanings under the law. A person's sex refers to whether they are genetically male or female, whereas a person’s gender refers to the sex someone most closely identifies with. Gender/sex discrimination is all too common in the workplace. A woman might be discriminated against because of her sex when being passed up for a promotion because her boss doesn’t believe that women can be proper leaders. A transgender individual might experience discrimination by being given different job opportunities, such as those with less client contact, by a prejudiced supervisor. In either case, employees are protected from such discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Neither sex nor gender discrimination should ever be tolerated and either can form the basis for a civil lawsuit. Despite the prevalence of gender/sex discrimination, it can sometimes be difficult to spot. When faced with a lawsuit, employers will often argue that their decisions were not motivated by discrimination, but rather some kind of legitimate business purpose. It is Maclen’s job to uncover the true evidence and make the case that the employer’s actions were motivated by illegal discrimination. Gender/sex discrimination cases can be some of the hardest cases to prove and require extremely experienced and dedicated attorneys to gather solid evidence and make compelling arguments. But just because these cases are difficult does not mean that victims aren’t entitled to the justice they deserve. Some common examples of gender/sex discrimination include: Lack of advancement opportunities Unequal pay Different job responsibilities Different expectations of employees Gender-specific dress codes Different interview questions (such as those focuses on a woman having a child or getting pregnant) Contact Maclen if you feel you have been discriminated against based on your sex or gender so you can discuss your case with an experienced attorney.