Melnychenko v. 84 Lumber Co.

A judge in the Superior Court ruled that Richard Raab, an employee of the defendant corporation at its West Springfield store, engaged in “sexual harassment,” as defined in G. L. c. 151B, § 1 (18), and that it did not matter what Raab’s sexual orientation was or whether Raab intended to have a sexual relationship with any of the plaintiffs, all of whom are male. The principal issue in this case is whether same-sex sexual harassment is prohibited by G. L. c. 151B, § 4 (16A), regardless of the sexual orientation of the parties. We agree with the trial judge that such conduct falls within the…