Legal Victory for Latinx Construction Workers Subjected to Sexual Harassment
In September 2024 two female construction workers reached a settlement with a local construction company after they filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment on the job and retaliatory termination. The clients are represented by WLC and ArentFox Schiff.
As more women join the construction industry, they face frequent sex discrimination and harassment in a male-dominated work culture. Women who complain about sexually hostile work environments are often branded as trouble-makers, demoted, and, ultimately, terminated. WLC is committed to ensuring that women in the construction industry receive equal treatment on the job.
Tyler House Tenants File Lawsuit To Stop Illegal Suppression of Their Right to Organize
Tyler House Tenant Association and its president, Ms. Venus Little, have filed a lawsuit against SHNIR Management and Tyler House Associates LLC, accusing them of obstructing the tenants' right to organize, in violation of D.C. law.
Tyler House, an affordable housing complex on North Capitol Street in the District of Columbia, is home to mostly working-class Black residents. For over a decade, tenants have struggled to address poor living conditions and safety concerns, alleging a lack of adequate response from management. D.C. law protects tenants' right to organize, making it unlawful for landlords or property managers to retaliate against such efforts.
The suit claims that the management blocked the Tenant Association from using the community room, demanded removal of organizing literature, and serving Little with a baseless eviction notice. Ms. Little also alleges threats of legal action from the defendants’ attorney.
"We’re fighting for our health and safety concerns, and we have the right to speak out," said Little.
Caitlin Russi, WLC counsel, praised the tenants’ perseverance, stating, “We are proud to stand with Tyler House tenants as they assert their right to organize.”
Ayesha Ahsan (new Equal Justice Works fellow) Featuring her Project Focused on the Mental Health Needs of DC Prisoners
As a Fellow at WLC, Ayesha will advocate for a decrease in use of solitary confinement for incarcerated individuals through direct representation, community organizing, and policy reform.
Upwards of 120,000 prisoners in the United States are being held in solitary confinement in jails and prisons across the country, often without a legitimate reason for confinement. A significant portion of this population experiences mental health issues, and the oppressive and violent conditions of solitary confinement exacerbate the symptoms of these illnesses. The administrative obstacles that prisoners face, particularly those in solitary, create significant difficulties for them to seek relief for their mistreatment. Prisoners in solitary need greater access to counsel and the courts, education regarding their rights, and a shift in the systems that dictate their incarceration to ensure their safety, health, and well-being.
Throughout her Fellowship, Ayesha will work directly with prisoners in solitary confinement to navigate administrative processes and legal avenues to challenge their placement in solitary. Ayesha will work with these individuals to learn more about the mechanisms that force prisoners into solitary confinement and strategize sustainable policy solutions to harmful practices and procedures. Additionally, she will work with community organizations and other stakeholders to create a network of resources and support for prisoners in solitary confinement seeking legal assistance.
Pro Bono Spotlight
ArentFox Schiff
In September 2024 WLC and ArentFox Schiff (“AFS”) reached a successful settlement on behalf of two Latinx construction workers subjected to sexual harassment on the job. This settlement was finalized within four months of the filing of the lawsuit.
Congratulations to the AFS pro bono team: Brian Schneider (AFS partner and WLC board treasurer), Jackson Toof (AFS partner), Mario Torrico (AFS associate), Ashley Tomillo (AFS associate), and Carolina Renteria (AFS paralegal)! This team contributed substantially to the initial factual investigation, pleading preparation, initial motions, hearing prep, and mediation.
AFS and WLC utilized a shared file system, allowing the teams to work together seamlessly to share the load when drafting documents. In addition, Carolina served as a translator with our clients.
Associate Trustee Spotlight
Tania Martinez
Tania Martinez is an Associate at Wilkinson Stekloff where she handles family law, immigration law, and constitutional law through an active pro bono practice. She has been recognized for her service on the D.C. Court of Appeals Pro Bono Honor Roll and was nominated to participate in the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity's Pathfinder program.
A graduate of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Tania was awarded Best Overall Attorney at the 2021 Southern Classic Trial Advocacy Competition. She also served as a Student Attorney at the MacArthur Justice Center, representing clients in prisoners’ rights cases.
Tania co-led the 2024 Wilkinson Associates’ Campaign (“AC”) team which raised over $39,000 for WLC and finished as the top performing AC team among small DC law firms. When asked why she supports WLC, Tania notes, “I am humbled to work with WLC to combat systems of discrimination in numerous civil liberties forums— from fair housing, to immigration rights, to the rights of the incarcerated, and everything in between.”
Julie Fernandes served on the WLC board from 2019 to 2022. After serving on the board, Julie has continued to support WLC by hosting a 2024 soiree at her home and introducing WLC to new donors.
Julie leads the Democracy Program at the Rockefeller Family Fund and is the founder and managing director of the Democracy & Power Innovation Fund. She previously served as Advocacy Director for Voting Rights and Democracy at the Open Society Foundations, as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department in the Obama administration, and as Special Assistant for Domestic Policy to President Clinton. Julie also served as Senior Counsel at the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights where she led the coalition’s successful campaign to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. Julie serves on the Board of Trustees of The Treatment and Learning Centers and Georgetown Day School. She received her J.D. and A.B. from University of Chicago and clerked for the Honorable Diane Wood on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Coming Down the Pike
WLC is Coming to Your Neighborhood!
In the coming months WLC parties will take place throughout the DC metro area. WLC staff and board members will discuss our racial justice work:
October 18 Happy Hour: Capitol Hill, DC
January 25 Lew Wiener Disability Justice Fellowship reception: Rockville, MD
If you would like to attend one of these parties, please contact WLC Development Director Melissa Nussbaum at melissa_nussbaum@washlaw.org or 202/319-1070.
The Washington Lawyers’ Committee works to create legal, economic and social equity through litigation, client and public education and public policy advocacy.
