Steiff CEO Frechen sued for rape by employee - Germany

A lawsuit for alleged sexual harassment and rape has been brought in an American Court against Steiff CEO Martin Frechen by a female employee of the American arm of the company in Massachusetts. She claims to have never contacted the police because she was fearful of losing her job. However she did claim to have kept a diary of the incidents and she also alleges that she complained to the head of the North American division but that he did not act. She is still employed by the company and is asking for $80million.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124447607263394491.html
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-New...n_Civil_Lawsuit

It seems odd that, if her boss committed what she considered to be a crime against her, she didn't report him to the police and then look for another job. Instead, she stayed in the same company for 5 years and then filed a claim for damages.

It almost sounds as if she was prepared to put up with the alleged rape in 2004 and years of sexual harrassment for the money. If so, how does she expect the court to believe that -- if it happened -- it really was a problem for her?

Maybe she didnt get the promotion he promised her

I believe that in the US, the plaintiff would not have to prove the rape and/or sexual harrassment themselves were a problem for her personally, so much as she has to prove the perpetrator's actions contributed to a hostile work environment.

From the Wall Street Journal article linked above:

I think $80 million is a lot to ask, but if the charges hold up, I don't see why she should have had to quit her job in order to get this sorted out. I doubt she could prove rape at a distance of 5 years and continued contact with the man, but she's probably hoping for an out-of-court settlement.