Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Tougher sexual harassment laws took effect Tuesday, but not soon enough for everyone

  • Justice
  • by Kathleen Megan
  • October 3, 2019
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Kathleen Megan :: CT Mirror

Maizzy Douchette, left, and Gianna Aconfora spoke out Thursday, alleging that they were sexually harassed when they worked at Maggie McFly’s and that management fired them when they complained.

In an effort to draw attention to Connecticut’s new, tougher sexual harassment and sexual assault law, two young women stepped forward Thursday to describe the harassment they say they experienced while working at the restaurant Maggie McFly’s.

Her voice breaking, Maizzy Douchette said she and Gianna Aconfora were “sexually harassed by our manager at Maggie McFly’s both verbally and physically. He made disgusting comments about our bodies and our personal lives and he touched both of us inappropriately.”

She said that when they complained to upper management, they were both fired.

Douchette and Aconfora, who sued the restaurant in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday, spoke at a news conference at the Legislative Office Building to “be a voice for other women,” Aconfora said, and to focus attention on the new legislation that took effect on Tuesday.

“We didn’t know where to turn to, what to do. But family members of mine convinced us that we could find people who would stick up for up for us and that we would have organizations that would support us as well,” Douchette said.

Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, who was a key proponent of the legislation, known as the “Time’s Up Act,” said that her hope is that with the new laws in place, young women like Douchette and Aconfora won’t have to rely on having an informed family member.

Instead, Flexer said, all employees will be trained on sexual harassment law and will know “what correct behavior is and what it isn’t and they’ll also know … where to go if you want to file a complaint, where to go to make it stop, what the protocols are.

The new law requires workplace training to combat sexual harassment. It also eliminates the statute of limitations for sexual assaults against minors and expands it in cases involving adults.

Under the previous law, companies with 50 or more employees were required to provide at least two hours of training on sexual harassment to supervisory employees within six months of their employment.  The new law requires employers with three or more employees to provide that training, and extends the requirement to all employees. 

The law is prospective, meaning it does not subject anyone to prosecution in older cases where the statute of limitations applied. But it greatly expands the time under which victims of assault can pursue damages in civil court or justice in criminal court.

Senate Democrats

Sen. May Flexer was a key proponent of legislation to toughen sexual harassment laws that took effect this week.

“Women in the workplace should not have to fear retaliation for being brave enough to come forward and share their stories,” Flexer said. “Justice for women like Gianna and Maizzy can only occur when our laws are updated to reflect changes in society. In the era of ‘Time’s Up’ and ‘Me Too,’ society’s view on the issue of sexual assault and harassment is finally changing and we cannot have antiquated laws that won’t adequately address claims such as these.”

The new law “sends a message to victims that we believe you and hear you and I’m hopeful that more victims of sexual assault and harassment will feel empowered to come forward and seek justice,” she said.

The lawsuit filed by Douchette and Aconfora is lodged against Maggie McFly’s and Daniel Therian, who was a manager at the restaurant’s Manchester and Glastonbury locations. Their case is receiving legal and public relations support from the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which is administered by the National Women’s Law Center.

In a statement Thursday, the restaurant’s founder and president, Ray Harper, denied the allegations made in the lawsuit.  The restaurant’s company headquarters are in Southbury.

“Maggie McFly’s is a locally owned, community oriented family restaurant with deep roots in the State of Connecticut.  Maggie’s fully supports Senator Flexer’s efforts and applauds her work championing the rights of those who are subject to workplace harassment,” Harper said. “The company, which is proud of its relationship with its over 500 Connecticut employees, vehemently denies the factual allegations of Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette.”

Therian could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

The suit outlines numerous instances of demeaning and sexually harassing remarks allegedly made by Therian to the two women, as well as instances where Therian physically lashed out against them.

Joshua R.Goodbaum, a New Haven attorney who is representing the women, said Therian is no longer working at the restaurant, but he said he was not certain exactly why he departed.

Douchette and Aconfora worked for the restaurant during 2017 and 2018 — Aconfora at the Manchester location and Douchette at the Manchester and Glastonbury locations. Aconfora was 21 and Douchette was 19 when they worked for Maggie McFly’s.

The lawsuit alleges that Therian made numerous harassing comments to both young women, saying to Aconfora, “Let me see your boobs. I see them popping out of your shirt” and “I could do damage to those boobs,” and told Therian, “I’m going to kill you and rape your dead body.”

The suit says that both women were terminated after reporting the sexual harassment to management.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Megan Kathleen Megan wrote for more than three decades for the Hartford Courant, covering education in recent years and winning many regional and national awards. She is now covering education and child welfare issues for the Mirror.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Keep youths out of the justice system, or hold them accountable? Judiciary committee advances bills that do both
by Kelan Lyons

Republicans were concerned about a provision in one bill that would erase certain juvenile records.

DCF commissioner says old juvenile detention center could humanely shelter migrant kids
by Mark Pazniokas and Kelan Lyons

Officials say a closed juvenile detention center's history should not rule out repurposing it as a shelter for migrant children.

Gov. Lamont’s cannabis bill passes out of Judiciary Committee, but not without changes
by Kelan Lyons

Revisions allow medical card-holders to grow their own plants and proposes that 55% of revenue go toward social-equity efforts.

Virus of hate: ‘We are not your fetish’ — Combating Anti-Asian racism and sexism
by CASSANDRA BASLER | WSHU.ORG

Researchers have tracked 4,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the last year, up 150% from 2019.

As federal lawsuit progresses, lawyers ask to sue in state court over negligence in prison death of 19-year old
by Kelan Lyons

A federal judge ruled that Karon Nealy Jr. "had an autoimmune disease that cost him his life.”

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Enriching the already rich — it’s been the American way.
by David Holahan

There are supposed to be two certainties in life: death and taxes. Here's a 2021 corollary: As the rich get richer and richer, they pay less and less into the U.S. Treasury. It’s no joke, my fellow 1040 filers. A recent study by economists and the IRS found that the richest Americans —yes, those infamous one-percenters— have been cheating on their taxes to the collective tune of at least $175 billion a year.

Opinion There is no equity without standardized race, ethnicity and language data
by The Rev. Robyn Anderson

Over a year into a pandemic that has cost the lives of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color at rates that are unjust and preventable, we cannot allow ourselves or our state to continue to use the word “equity” without the data to show policies really are addressing injustice. We all know the disparities aren’t about race; they’re about racism.

Opinion Baseball is still a civil rights battleground
by Steve Thornton

For over 150 years, the baseball field has been a battleground for civil rights. Bigoted politicians like Texas governor Greg Abbott are still fighting the Civil War — on the wrong side of history.

Opinion Getting connected for Connecticut students
by Sabrina Tucker-Barrett

There is one key to ensuring the success of Connecticut students: we must keep them connected. Whether your children are in fifth grade or freshman year, they have or will continue to learn virtually in some capacity, which means unstable Wi-Fi during class, delays in homework submission or inability to research are unacceptable.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO