International heavyweights caught knee-deep in sleaze

Nabila Habib

It is important to be aware of sexual-harassment laws and instances when dealing with the sensitive issue of sexual crimes. Some incidents listed below are bizarre and unbelievable, but they are representative of just how widespread, damaging and seemingly subjective some of these cases can be. Every sexual harassment, abuse and assault must be viewed with justice and it is imperative to listen to both the sides before pointing the finger.This list of the top fifteen all time sexual-harassment cases chronicle the misdeeds of the prominent people from all fields. 1. Jenson versus Eveleth Taconite Company: The case received worldwide publicity when Charlize Theron starring in movie ‘North Country’ (2005) told the story of Lois Jenson, an employee at the Eveleth Taconite Company mine in Minnesota during the 1970s and 1980s. At the mine, Jenson and other female employees were regularly harassed sexually and threatened by male workers. When Jenson first filed a complaint, ‘her car tires were slashed,’ and the company refused to pay for replacements. Through various hearings and trials that lasted well into the 1990s, Jenson and the other plaintiffs eventually settled with the Eveleth Taconite Co for $3.5 million. 2. Mike Tyson versus Desiree Washington: Tyson was arrested and convicted on February 10, 1992 for the rape of Desiree Washington, Miss Black Rhode Island, in an Indianapolis hotel room. Under Indiana law, a defendant convicted of felony must begin serving his prison sentence immediately after the sentence is imposed. He was given a sentence of six years and was released in March 1995 after serving three years 3. Bill Clinton versus Paula Jones: As governor of Arkansas, former president Bill Clinton allegedly ‘propositioned [Paula Jones] and exposed himself to her in a Little Rock hotel room,’ an American daily had reported. Clinton never admitted to the sexual-harassment charges despite the brutal legal and public-relations battle which ensued during the mid-1990s. The case was resurrected during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and it is suggested that ‘allegations of perjury in [the Paula Jones] deposition are among the 11 possibly impeachable offences that [Ken] Starr outlined in his ... report to Congress’ in 1998. (Again) Bill Clinton versus Monica Lewinsky: Perhaps the most famous presidential scandal in America’s history, Bill Clinton`s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky escalated far beyond the Oval Office. People all over the world watched as Clinton`s presidency took a backseat to finding out whether or not Clinton had ‘sexual relations with that woman’. In 1995, President Clinton was impeached from office after he lied under oath about an extra-marital affair with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton publicly denied the affair with the famous words, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." Yet the evidence went against him. Although he remained in office, he was impeached.. Eventually, he became the second US president to face an impeachment trial. 4. Hugh Grant versus the people of Los Angeles: The celebrated Hollywood actor was caught red handed with a prostitute in 1995. The British actor was arrested in Hollywood and charged with indecent conduct on Sunset Boulevard after he picked up prostitute Divine Brown, 25 (real name Estella Marie Thompson). In California, prostitution is a crime that falls under the category of ‘disorderly conduct’. Solicitation for prostitution (also known as either solicitation or prostitution) is charged as a ‘misdemeanour’. Hugh was dating model and actress Elizabeth Hurley at the time. 5. Senator Bob Packwood: Former Senator Bob Packwood was a Republican from Oregon who was re-elected four consecutive times, and became chair of the powerful Finance Committee. In 1995, however, Senator Packwood allegedly harassed 29 women through ‘groping, forced kissing and propositioning sex’. The Senate`s Ethics Committee was able to prove 17 of the 29 incidents, and Packwood resigned from his senatorial seat. 6. Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy versus the US Army: In 2000, the Army`s highest-ranking female officer was Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, an ‘oft-touted example of how the military has become more accommodating to women’, according to a news channel. Unfortunately for the Army`s reputation, however, Kennedy insisted that she was inappropriately ‘fondled’ by a male officer. After reporting the incident, the male officer was ‘either promoted or given a much-coveted posting’ instead of being punished, as Kennedy had hoped. 7. The Archdiocese of Boston: Roman Catholics weren`t the only ones shocked when, in 2002, Boston-area priests and bishops were put on trial for ghastly accusations of sexually harassing children. The scandals received worldwide coverage and ultimately reached the Vatican and Pope John Paul II. The Archdiocese of Boston`s Cardinal Bernard F Law announced a new `zero-tolerance` policy on abusive clergy and agreed to turn over the names of all priests accused of sexual abuse to prosecutors. The Archdiocese of Boston began pouring through its records and suspending abusive priests still in the ministry. Hundreds of victims from all over the country began to reveal stories of sexual abuse, and the Catholic Church in America suddenly found itself under siege. 8. Kobe Bryant versus Katelyn Faber: Stellar performer in the basketball court, Kobe Bryant stepped out of the legal road and caught himself mired in controversy in the summer of 2003. The sheriff`s office of Eagle, Colorado arrested Bryant in connection with an investigation of a sexual assault complaint filed by 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber. Faber had accused Bryant of raping her in his hotel room the night before Bryant was to undergo a knee surgery. Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation. Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with the specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public. 9. Dov Charney versus American Apparel Incorporate Employees: Dov Charney, the CEO and founder of popular clothing chain American Apparel, is known in the fashion industry and beyond as an ‘unconventional’, sexed-up boss. But he could only get away with sleeping with employees and showing up to meetings naked for so long! In 2005, three American Apparel employees filed suit against Charney for sexually harassing them at work by giving them sex toys, making derogatory comments and more. However, many negated the employees` claims, maintaining that the office culture at American Apparel is ‘uniquely lax’, and that the company`s marketing strategies – designed to attract young – sexy buyers naturally leak into the workplace. 10. Michael Jackson versus the people of California: In 2005, pop icon Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a thirteen year old boy at his Neverland Ranch. The singer was taken to court and put on trial for two counts of abducting, one count of intoxicating and nine counts of molesting a minor. Michael was later found not guilty on all charges. However, the case received intense international coverage and greatly tarnished the pop-icon’s image forever. 11. Vincent Roy Margera ‘Don Vito’: Popular MTV actor Vincent Roy Margera, 50 was accused of inappropriately fondling and groping 12 and 14-year-old girls during separate incidents at a signing event at Woodward Skatepark at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, Colorado. He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child. Margera had been charged with three counts of sexual assault on a child in connection with an August 2006 photo and autograph-signing event at the Colorado Mills mall skate park. He was acquitted of one count. 12. Anand Jon: This former fashion designer turned convicted serial rapist had previously appeared on America`s Next Top Model and rose to fame in the fashion industry. Jon was convicted of 16 out of 23 counts of sexual abuse, including the forcible rape of seven women and girls, ages 14 to 21 years old. Because the case involved special circumstances against multiple victims, the penalty is a mandatory life sentence. Therefore, Jon will not be eligible for parole until the year 2075 (67 years). Jon still faces criminal charges in New York state and is also under investigation for similar charges in Texas and Massachusetts.