If you are dealing with sexual harassment at work, the legal side is only part of the pressure.
A lot of people in this position are also trying to protect their income, hold onto their job, or recover after lost hours, retaliation, or being pushed out. When money gets tight before the case is resolved, pre-settlement funding may help cover necessary expenses while your claim moves forward.
A sexual harassment lawsuit loan is a non-recourse cash advance based on the expected value and merits of your case. Non-recourse means repayment comes only from the case’s settlement or judgment. There are no monthly payments, and if there is no recovery, you do not repay the advance.
What counts as workplace sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination.
According to the EEOC, it can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. It also does not always have to involve sexual desire. Harassment because of a person’s sex can still be unlawful even when it shows up as degrading comments, intimidation, or offensive treatment. The harasser can be a supervisor, coworker, customer, or client.
Common examples may include:
- unwanted touching
- sexual comments or jokes
- repeated sexual messages or advances
- explicit images, emails, or texts
- pressure for sexual favors
- hostile treatment after rejection
- offensive comments about sex, gender, or sexual conduct
Every bad workplace interaction is not automatically a legal claim. But repeated/ongoing/escalating serious conduct that changes the conditions of your job or affects your employment can become a strong case.
Timing matters in sexual harassment claims
Workers should not assume they have unlimited time to act.
The EEOC says a charge generally must be filed within 180 days, though that deadline may extend to 300 days if a state or local anti-discrimination law also applies. Federal employees generally have 45 days to contact an EEO counselor.
Can you get pre-settlement funding for a sexual harassment lawsuit?
Not every harassment claim will qualify for legal funding. Approval depends on the strength of your case, the likely damages (over $75,000), whether you have a contingency attorney, and whether there is a realistic path to a settlement.
Legal funding underwriters need to ensure your case is valuable enough to support non-recourse funding.
Who may qualify?
A sexual harassment claim may have a better chance of qualifying when:
- you already have a contingency attorney
- the harassment is well documented
- the conduct was repeated, severe, and tied to job consequences
- you reported it internally, to HR, or through another documented channel
- you suffered measurable damages, such as lost wages, emotional distress, demotion, lost hours, or termination
- the employer has liability insurance (other available insurance coverage) tied to the claim
- the case is already filed, in active settlement talks, or supported by a charge or formal legal demand
Employment cases are mainly evaluated on proof, damages, and recoverability. A case can be upsetting and still be difficult to fund if the evidence or damages are limited.
What documents can help support a funding review?
Sexual harassment claims often rise or fall on the paper trail.
Helpful documents may include:
- emails, texts, chats, or direct messages
- screenshots
- HR complaints or internal reports
- witness statements
- write-ups, schedule changes, or disciplinary records after you complained
- pay records showing lost hours or lost income
- medical or counseling records, where relevant
- an EEOC charge or state agency filing
- a right-to-sue notice, if one has already been issued
- court filings or attorney demand letters
The more clearly the records show what happened, when it happened, who knew about it, and how it affected your job, the easier the claim usually is to evaluate.
Retaliation often becomes part of the story
A lot of sexual harassment cases do not stop with the harassment itself.
Sometimes the worker speaks up and then gets punished. Hours get cut. A promotion disappears. The workplace suddenly becomes hostile. Or the employee is fired, pushed out, or treated differently for reporting what happened.
The EEOC states that employees are protected from retaliation for reporting discrimination, filing a charge, participating in an investigation, or otherwise opposing unlawful discrimination. That protection matters because many strong sexual harassment cases also involve retaliation.
How pre-settlement funding works for a sexual harassment claim
The process is usually straightforward.
- You apply online or call (888) 711-3599 to get started.
- Baker Street Funding then reviews the basics of your case before qualifying.
- Next, your attorney provides case information and documents.
- If your claim qualifies, you and your attorney receive a funding agreement to review.
- Once signed, funds are sent.
This is not a bank loan.
A traditional lender looks at your credit, income, and debt. Pre-settlement funding looks at the legal claim itself. That is why these arrangements are often used by plaintiffs who are under pressure but do not want another monthly payment hanging over them.
What can the money be used for?
If approved, people often use the money for ordinary living expenses while the case is pending, such as:
- rent or mortgage
- groceries
- utilities
- car payments
- transportation
- childcare
- alimony
- phone bills
- catching up after lost income
What can make approval harder?
Some sexual harassment claims are harder to fund.
That can happen when:
- there is little documentation
- the case is still very early
- there is no attorney involved
- damages appear limited
- liability is heavily disputed
- the employer may not have the resources to pay a settlement or judgment
Why some workers look into funding during a harassment case
Sexual harassment at work can affect far more than the workday.
It can lead to missed income, sudden job changes, emotional strain, and pressure to settle before the case is really ready. Pre-settlement funding does not fix the harm. But if your case qualifies, it may give you room to cover necessary expenses without taking on a traditional loan or rushing your legal decisions.
Apply for pre-settlement funding for a sexual harassment lawsuit
If you have an attorney and an active sexual harassment claim, Baker Street Funding may be able to help.
Our funding is non-recourse. That means:
- no monthly payments
- no repayment if there is no recovery
- repayment comes from the settlement or judgment if the case succeeds
If your sexual harassment lawsuit is pending and you need money to stay current on basic expenses, you can start with a quick application.
FAQ
Can you get a lawsuit loan for a sexual harassment case?
It depends on the strength of the claim, the likely damages, the available proof, whether you have an attorney, and the expected recovery.
Is sexual harassment considered sex discrimination?
Yes. The EEOC states that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under the laws it enforces.
Does retaliation matter in a sexual harassment claim?
Yes. Retaliation can become an important part of the case if your employer cut your hours, demoted you, fired you, or otherwise punished you after you reported harassment or participated in a complaint process.
Do you need a lawyer to get funding?
Yes. Your attorney needs to provide case information and documents for review. Your attorney also needs to consent to pre-settlement funding.
Is legal funding the same as a regular loan?
No. Pre-settlement funding is non-recourse, which means repayment comes from the case recovery, not from monthly installments, and nothing is owed if there is no recovery.
