Harris v. Harvey (1979)

Harris v. Harvey, 419 F. Supp. 30 (E.D. Wis. 1979), is a United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin case concerning sexual harassment in the workplace. The plaintiff, Ms. Harris, alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment by her supervisor, Mr. Harvey, based on her sex.

The court found that Harvey's conduct created a hostile and offensive working environment. This conduct included unwelcome advances, sexually suggestive remarks, and other behaviors that were offensive to Ms. Harris. The court determined that Harvey's actions were pervasive and had the effect of creating a discriminatory working environment based on sex, thus violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The ruling in Harris v. Harvey contributed to the developing legal understanding of sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII. It established that a hostile work environment, created through unwelcome sexual advances and other offensive conduct, could constitute illegal discrimination, even without tangible economic loss. While the facts of the case are specific to the individuals involved and the time period, the case is notable for its early recognition of hostile work environment sexual harassment.