The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Nov. 9 that workers do not have to prove they have suffered psychological damage to win sexual harassment cases against employers.
The decision reversed lower court rulings that evidence of "severe psychological damage" was necessary.
In the majority opinion, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor directed lower courts to use the "reasonable person" standard in deciding if sexual harassment has taken place. Under that standard, the court should decide if any reasonable person would feel the situation had become abusive.
The court issued its ruling in a suit filed by Teresa Harris in which she charged she had been sexually harassed by her former boss at a Nashville, Tenn., forklift plant.
