Abusive Boss Blamed for Three Abortions

CHICAGO (CN) - A lesbian suffered through three abortions because her boss had sex with her several times a week under threat of firing, the woman claims in court.

Plaintiff Gonzalez sued Harry James Management and Defendant Mora in Cook County Court. Harry James is a real estate management company in Chicago's fast-growing Wicker Park neighborhood.

Gonzalez worked there "for most of the period between April 2006 and May 2012," the complaint begins. "During that time, she was abused and victimized by her direct supervisor countless times in countless different ways. He forced her to have anal, oral, and vaginal sex with him week after week by threatening her job."

The complaint adds that the job was the only source of livelihood for the plaintiff and her daughter.

He made disgusting comments to her in front of co-workers, repeatedly saying things like 'go wash the cum out of your mouth.' Through these and many other abusive practices, Mora amassed psychological power over Gonzalez.

Despite this victimization, she eventually worked up the courage to leave that hostile environment, to start seeing a therapist, and eventually to regain her dignity."

Mora lived in an apartment owned by Harry James Management, and Gonzalez says she was asked to do maintenance there. There, at the end of 2006, she claims, Mora first forced her to give him oral sex.

Gonzalez claims she "stated that she didn't like men, but he told her it was 'the same.' He forced his hands down her pants and grabbed her vagina. Then he grabbed her breasts and started to take off his pants. He grabbed her head and forced her to give him oral sex. She was gagging and tried to lift her head but he held it down. Soon after, she vomited. He threatened her and told her that if she told anyone what he had done, or even that they were at his house, they would 'have problems,'" according to the lawsuit.

Gonzalez claims she submitted to Mora's sexual demands to keep her job. For a time, she claims, Mora withheld work from her and she "did not even have enough money to buy diapers." she claims.

The plaintiff says Mora often refused to wear a condom and the defendant was forced to terminate three pregnancies from 2008-2010, according to the complaint. "This was not only emotionally but also spiritually devastating," said the complaint.

After her first abortion, Mora escalated his abuse of Gonzalez, forcing her to have anal sex with him on two occasions, said the complaint, causing severe pain and bleeding.

In approximately the fall of 2009, the plaintiff needed time off to care for her brother, who has in the hospital for a brain tumor. In exchange for "justifying" her absences to the owner for Harry James Management, plaintiff forced her to have sex.

The defendant also held plaintiff out to be a prostitute, asking her to have sex with his grandson for $100, a proposition she refused..

Gonzalez claims she finally gathered the strength to refuse Mora and leave Harry James Management in 2012.

She seeks punitive damages for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, assault and battery and emotional distress.

She is represented by Sheerine Alemzadeh with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, with assistance from Vikas Didwania with Kirkland & Ellis.

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