Opinion ID: 697653
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Fair Employment Practices Act, Mass.Ann.Laws ch. 151B, sec. 1 (1995):

Text: 44 Section 1. Definitions. As used in this chapter 45 ... 46 5. The term employer does not include ... any employer with fewer than six persons in his employ.... 47 .... 48 18. The term sexual harassment shall mean sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature ... (b) ... [which] have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive work environment. Discrimination on the basis of sex shall include, but not be limited to, sexual harassment. 49 Section 4. Unlawful Practices; Certain Records to be Kept; Employer, etc., Not Required to Grant Preferential Treatment to Any Individual or Group. It shall be an unlawful practice: 50 1. For an employer, by himself or his agent, because of the race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ... or ancestry of any individual to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment such individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.... 51 .... 52 16A. For an employer, personally or through its agents, to sexually harass any employee. 53 Section 5. Complaints Alleging Unlawful Practice or Violation of Certain Statutes; Proceedings Before Commission; Injunctive Relief; Award of Damages. 54 Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful practice [listed in section 4] ... may ... make, sign and file with the commission a verified complaint in writing.... 55 .... 56 ... Before or after a determination of probable cause hereunder such commissioner may also file a petition in equity in the superior court.... 57 Section 6. Judicial Review of Order of Commission; Injunctive Relief. 58 Any complainant, respondent or other person aggrieved by such order of the commission may obtain judicial review thereof ... in the superior court 59 ... 60 Section 9. Chapter Construed Liberally; Inconsistent Laws; Procedure Exclusive; Damages or Injunctive Relief. 61 ... [A]s to acts declared unlawful by section four, the procedure provided in this chapter shall, while pending, be exclusive; and the final determination therein shall exclude any other action, civil or criminal, based on the same grievance of the individual concerned. 62 Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a practice made unlawful under this chapter or under chapter one hundred and fifty-one C, or by any other unlawful practice within the jurisdiction of the commission, may, at the expiration of ninety days after the filing of a complaint with the commission, or sooner if a commissioner assents in writing, but not later than three years after the alleged unlawful practice occurred, bring a civil action for damages or injunctive relief or both in the superior or probate court ... or in the housing court within whose district the alleged unlawful practice occurred if the unlawful practice involves residential housing.... An aggrieved person may also seek temporary injunctive relief in the superior, housing or probate court within such county at any time to prevent irreparable injury during the pendency of or prior to the filing of a complaint with the commission.... 63