A female lawyer has filed a sexual harassment suit against her former law firm in Fresno, saying she and other employees were taken to a strip club by a senior partner, whose alleged behavior at the club made her feel humiliated.
The lawyer, Michelle Ritchie, states in her lawsuit that she was shocked to see Joseph Yrulegui, a partner and shareholder of Yrulegui & Roberts of Fresno, make gestures mimicking oral sex to many of the strippers at the City Lights Nightclub on Clovis Avenue.
Joseph C. Yrulegui
Senior Partner
Joseph Yrulegui is a partner and shareholder with Yrulegui & Roberts in the Fresno office. He joined the firm as an associate in 2009 after graduating from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Joseph received his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and History from the University of California, Davis. He is an avid fan of Fresno State basketball, and in his spare time enjoys being with his family and reading. Recently Joseph joined the Executive Committee of the 300 Club, focusing on fundraising for Big Brothers, Big Sisters Central California.
She also accuses Yrulegui of supplying his co-workers with dollar bills to tip the dancers and paying for lap dances for the employees, according to the lawsuit. “After that, plaintiff was uncomfortable, felt degraded and humiliated by Joseph Yrulegui.
She talked to the other employees about how disgusting and dirty his behavior was.
The employees also were embarrassed, humiliated, and uncomfortable with Joseph Yrulegui’s actions,” the lawsuit states. Ritchie is alleging several violations, including sexual harassment, sex discrimination, failure to investigate, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking financial damages.
Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article263509318.html#storylink=cpy