Sexually Abused at Interview for Modeling Position with Barami
Date: November 8, 2005
An aspiring singer and actress has filed a sexual harassment suit in state court in Manhattan this week against Barami Enterprises, Inc., and Barami CEO, founder, noted clothing designer and retailer, Bahram Hakakian.
In July 2004, Alexander, 22, was shopping with her aunt at the Barami clothing store located on East 57th Street in Manhattan, when she was approached by a Barami representative who inquired whether she would be interested in a “modeling” position at Barami. Alexander thereafter sent promotional photographs to Barami and was contacted by Bahram Hakakian, who scheduled an interview in his office on West 36th Street.
According to the complaint, Alexander met with Hakakian on September 1, 2004. During the course of this interview process Hakakian sexually harassed and abused Alexander by refusing to leave the changing room where Alexander was dressing, offered her wine and illegal drugs, showed her sexually explicit and offensive illustrations on his computer and groped and fondled her buttocks and breasts. As a result of Alexander’s rejection of Hakakian’s unwelcome sex-based actions, she was not hired to work for Barami. She is currently seeking monetary compensation for her severe emotional distress as well as loss of income and punitive damages for the outrageous conduct.
Alexander is represented by Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser, LLP, a Women’s Rights in the Workplace labor and employment boutique law firm located in New York City.
For more information about the case or to obtain a copy of the state court complaint, contact Jack Tuckner or William Sipser at 212.766.9100 or jtuckner@womensrightsny.com or wjsipser@womensrightsny.com.