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Flirting With The Law: An Analysis Of The Ellerth/Faragher Circuit Split And A Prediction Of The Seventh Circuit’S Stance, Natalie S. Neals

Marquette Law Review

This Comment critically analyzes the split in the circuits over the second prong of the Ellerth/Faragher defense. Further, this Comment predicts how the Seventh Circuit will rule on this split. The Ellerth/Faragher defense is an affirmative defense available to employers who would otherwise be held liable for their supervisors’ harassing acts in hostile work environment situations. There are two prongs to the defense: (1) “the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any sexually harassing behavior” and (2) “the plaintiff employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventative or corrective opportunities provided by the employer or to …