Creepy lawyer blames sexual harassment on quit-smoking drug
A creepy lawyer who threatened a staff member when she refused his sexual advances blamed his behaviour on a quit-smoking drug.
Owen Hughes is principal solicitor at Beesley and Hughes, located in Northern New South Wales.
He told the Federal Circuit Court he lost control of his emotions on two days in October 2015, because he was taking the drug Champix.
Creepy lawyer admonished by judge
Judge Salvatore Vasta, who went on to award record damages against Hughes, laughed at the suggestion.
“Do you understand how ridiculous what you have just said sounds Mr Hughes?” Judge Vasta asked him.
Adding, if it were true, then Champix “would be a wonder drug”.
“It affects your mood and affects it very quickly, it’s not something that I should ever have taken,” Mr Hughes replied.
Later he told the court that Champix had magnified his “heartstruck” feelings “ten-fold”.
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The background
Catherine Hill commenced legal action against Hughes for subjecting her to a campaign of “relentless” sexual harassment.
It included bombarding her with emails, and threatening her job if she did not agree to a sexual relationship with him.
She once walked into her bedroom at a home where the pair were staying on an overnight work trip, to find Hughes wearing a singlet and boxer shorts.
She told the court she felt “intimidated or threatened” by Hughes despite making it clear that she wasn’t interested in a relationship.
Hughes sent Hill an email titled: “Expressing my feelings is not harassment”.
“If you and I were together we would change the world” and “we are dynamite together,” he wrote.
In another he said, “I am a wild and passionate man so you will be justly rewarded.”
Record damages
Judge Vasta awarded Hill $170,000 damages, including a record $50,000 in aggravated damages.
“It is the mark of a bygone era where women, by their mere presence, were responsible for the reprehensible behaviour of men,” Judge Vasta said.
Eye-watering payout
Miles Heffernan, Litigation Director at Discrimination Claims, described the compensation payout as “eye-watering”.
“Most cases of this type result in a victim awarded around $70,000 for general damages, and no additional aggravated damages,” he said.
“Judge Vasta ordering such a huge sum of money, without any economic loss, is extraordinary.
“It shows the courts will severely punish anyone who engages in persistent sexual harassment.
“The lesson is simple – when it comes to sex and sexual behaviour in the workplace, keep your hands to yourself.
“Furthermore, when someone says they’re not interested, then they are clearly not interested.
“As a result, stop sending emails, text messages or flowers, because it will end up costing a fortune.”