Original Blog Entry: Woman sues company for sexual harassment; Their response? She' too ugly

truesee — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:36:01 GMT

Woman sues for sexual harassment at People's Choice Realty; Their response? She's too ugly to touch

Oren Yaniv

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, August 11th 2011, 2:40 PM

Nicholas Fevelo for News

Priscilla Agosto alleges male co-workers at People's Choice Reality exposed themselves, rubbed up against her and even asked for oral sex.

A 23-year-old lesbian says the Brooklyn real estate office she once worked in is a den of deviants where raunchy sexcapades were the norm.

But the bosses she's suing say she's too ugly to harass.

Priscilla Agosto ran a gauntlet of sexual humilition - verbal and physical - in her 14 miserable months at People's Choice Realty, her suit against its three bosses says.

No less than seven male employees made lewd advances at her - even after she complained to the bosses, she said in papers filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Her male co-workers exposed themselves, rubbed up against her and even asked for oral sex, she alleges.

And they even offered $500 to watch her have sex with her girlfriend, she said.

I hope and pray that by sharing my story, anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation will have the courage to speak up, said Agosto.

Odelia Berlianshik, the owner of the Williamsburg firm, denied the charges - and launched a shocking attack on Agosto's appearance.

Who would touch her? She's an ugly girl anyway, she said of the former secretary. She made up a story because she didn't want to work.

Agosto's lawyer Brendan Chao said another former employee corroborated much of his client's account.

He only brought the suit recently, he added, because a complaint had to be first filed with the city's Commission of Human Rights.

Agosto worked in real estate office from January 2008 until March 2009.

The discrimination suit seeks unspecified back pay and benefits.

People attacked her ethnicity, her gender, her sexual orientation, said Chao.

She finally quit after things got physical. An employee slapped Agosto across the face, but when she came crying to Berlianshik, the suit said, her boss waved her away.

Berlianshik conceded the slapping incident took place, but claimed the worker was instructed to say he's sorry.

He apologized and offered to buy her lunch, she said.

Berlianshik is named in the suit as are Mickey and Richard Berlianshik, the other co-owners.

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