Lawsuit Settlement Funding Firm Reports $580K Settlement in Sexual Harassment Case against Ex-Assemblyman Vito Lopez

NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, reports that a $580K settlement was finally reached in the sexual harassment case of accusers, Victoria Burhans and Chloe Rivera, against ex-Assemblyman Vito Lopez. The deal was announced Thursday, February 5^th, according to the NY Daily News, and the overall settlement is for state and federal lawsuits the two women brought, where they claim that then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver neglected to take appropriate action to prevent Lopez from sexually harassing them. The investigation and litigation lasted more than two years before the settlement was finally reached. In the settlement terms, it has been decided that taxpayers will pay $545K to the two women while ex-Assemblyman Vito Lopez will pay $35K.

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The two women involved, Burhans and Rivera, first accused Lopez of sexual harassment in 2012 and their charges were then validated by an Assembly ethics committee, according to the NY Daily News; it was then discovered that two other women had previously brought a complaint against Lopez, and then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had quietly settled it, costing taxpayers $103K. While Silver resigned as speaker earlier this month after being charged by the U.S. attorney's office in January with taking $4MM in bribes and kickbacks, he still remains an Assembly member. Lopez, although he agreed to pay the $35K to resolve the case, maintains that the allegations were not true and he admits no wrongdoing or liability. Lopez resigned from the Assembly in May of 2013 after it was found by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics that he had sexually harassed at least eight female staffers, also according to NY Daily News.

Patty Kirby, COO and Head of Client Relations, commented on the company's focus of pre-settlement funding on sexual harassment and sexual abuse cases, "Unfortunately we see cases very similar to these every day where women are subject to sexual harassment in the workforce or sexual abuse in women prisons. Our staff is keenly aware of the settlement value and settlement ranges for women who are waiting for a large sexual harassment or sexual abuse award and can appropriately provide the needed cash advance funding while they await their settlement check."   

Legal-Bay is reaffirming their dedication to helping victims involved in sexual harassment, sexual abuse, battery or assault in the workplace, and/or sexual assault cases. For more information on the funding programs and a complete list of cases Legal-Bay funds, including clergy or Catholic Church sexual abuse cases, please visit: http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/sexual-abuse-cases.php

If you, or a loved one, require some financial support due to a sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse case, feel free to call Legal-Bay on its toll-free hotline at: 877.571.0405 where available agents are standing by 24 hours a day to help you in this time of need. You may also apply online at: http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com and an agent will respond to your request shortly.

Disclaimer:  Legal-Bay's programs are non-recourse lawsuit cash advances, also known as case funding, which means you only repay the settlement advance if you win your case. None of the programs should be considered to be a lawsuit loan, lawsuit loans, settlement loans, settlement loan, pre-settlement loans, or a pre-settlement loan. To learn more about how Legal-Bay's funding process works, visit: http://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/funding-process.php

Contact: Patty Kirby, COO/Head of Client Relations
Ph. 877.571.0405 Email [email protected]

SOURCE Legal-Bay LLC