Partner Featured in Outlets on California Supreme Court Ruling

BCLP Partner Jean-Claude (JC) André was quoted Jan. 13 in Courthouse News Service and Jan. 14 in The Los Angeles Daily Journal on a ruling being hailed as a major win for victims of sexual assault and harassment. The California Supreme Court held January 13 that a contract barring two people from bad-mouthing each other doesn’t prevent a woman from suing an abuser in court and doesn’t permit the abuser to counter-claim for breach of contract. “I think it’s a great day for California victims of harassment and abuse because the opinion appropriately recognizes that such victims are entitled to more access to the courts, greater protections and more remedies,” he said. JC’s pro bono client claims Curtis Olson attempted to rape her and his associates harassed and stalked her. Had the state’s highest court sided with Olson’s position in the dispute, JC said it would have “chilled victims’ access to the courts” by forcing them to face “a specter of a penalty of damages, which would have a horrible deterring effect on victims seeking judicial relief.”