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Attorney Gloria Allred on her legal career, fight for women’s rights and her high profile cases.
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Gloria all red isn't afraid to take on the controversy real cases.
And -- yourself against the rich and powerful such as Herman Cain Donald Trump and Tiger Woods just to name a -- For more on her 36 years in line in the public guy and -- -- Gloria all read welcome to the show well thank you for having me Jerry so the question I've always wanted to ask you.
Is how you get your cases do these women call you or do you call them for 36 years I've had every single client.
Call me email me was stop -- the elevator somewhere in retail stores and restaurants in rest rooms.
And that's how they contact me -- do you decide -- -- -- all over the country and sometimes other places in the world.
How do you decide -- you're taking the case.
Very carefully.
For example -- look at a lot of factors jury for example what's the probability of success is it within our firm's expertise.
What are the resources of the client what -- the resources of the firm is it still timely.
And what is the evidence going to be for our client and what is the other side going to present as evidence so.
We have litigating cases we have one cases precedent setting cases in the United States Court of Appeals in -- California court of appeal about California Supreme Court.
Your record is well known -- I think.
You're probably the best known face.
For women's cases -- for women's rights we've won hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of sex discrimination sexual harassment but some people say this some of the women that you are representing.
Are are are not good character witnesses -- me let me put it that way.
Her McCain's alleged -- mistress.
Bile -- I think is how you pronounce her name her credibility was questioned.
It was a credibility -- Tiger Woods mistress who you also represented.
Do you feel like -- you take our US celebrity attorney at the end of the day are you writing the backs of these big celebrity cases how would you describe what you do.
Of course -- -- inviolate and that involved terming king we did not file a lawsuit.
But while you say that some people questioned Sharon.
Who alleged that he had sexually harassed her when she asked for his assistance in obtaining employment.
We all remember that was that a week later ginger came forward alleged that she added thirteen year fair -- retain and he ended up resigning.
So I believe that both share and and ginger.
Were vindicated in the court of public opinion.
Your critics say your top in your face for you to -- I don't think that I can be -- -- tough because we're going up against the rich the powerful the famous large corporations small businesses.
Government sexual harasser child sexual abusers -- and sometimes killers so we have to be top we have to level the playing field.
Power needs power and that's how we win results by being strong in support of women in defense of women.
And we believe that the women that we represent are very courageous it takes a lot of courage to wind down.
Different -- and to become public yet the interesting things we found we were covering her McCain's story -- at like everybody else did.
We found out that the average settlement in a sexual harassment suit is some five to 7000 dollars and a lot of people out there are cases.
Well -- I -- and more obviously and a lot of cases.
But a lot of people say that women go after these cases pursue these cases just to get the -- wouldn't say -- people.
Well I believe that if in fact our clients can prove that they were sexually harassed and that they were damaged as a result.
Then they should be able to win compensation and the law allows for that.
And that we believe -- sexual harassment is a significant barrier to women's enjoyment of equal employment opportunity.
And that is why it is wrong they should not have to run the gauntlet of being sexually harassed and having their breasts grabbed.
Of having their butts I really all of have -- I don't watch pornography.
-- -- getting -- do you think the workplace.
Is more of an even playing field maybe because of efforts -- like somebody like you.
Than they used to be isn't getting better -- -- their recent studies have women's pay and this is in the news a lot of people are debating it right now.
Looks like women's pay if you really slice and dice -- it's actually much more even than it used to be if you look at just single women and single men.
Single women entanglements -- are essentially the same for young people.
If you look at the -- college graduates women vs men the ages of forty to 68 you find what and make more 47000.
Compared to men making 40000.
-- -- -- -- Better out there not really as far as I'm concerned though a lot of women still stuck in what I call sex segregated job -- Where they are earning less than then -- solely on account of the fact that they are women.
Overall the Census Bureau does say that women -- 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man.
And the probably is that we look at for example fortune 500 companies which I know you deal with.
Quite a bit on Europe program and the Willis report.
You'll find that there are very few women.
One boards of directors of fortune 500 companies.
At the top as CEO says CFOs.
C.
Very hard cracked ceiling -- -- talk about the CEO's chair that's absolutely true.
But I think you find -- in the second and third fourth ranks really moving up now and the pay is starting at -- -- at least say.
Way we've made some gains out there things we can be proud about this more women than men are attending college now.
The next generations -- gonna be far far different.
The many of the women that are in their fifties and sixties today.
Well I I like to think that things are getting better.
But they're not getting as and it is that much better at but the good news is that women are knowing their rights and they are asserting their rights.
And they are fighting back against unlawful sex discrimination but I think that our younger women.
Have an expectation that they will not be discriminated against on account of their gender that if they just get that NBA for example.
And they -- the financial sector that things will be so much better and unfortunately they are often so disappointed we deal with a lot of women.
In the financial sector very very low level -- -- -- bit -- I'm very -- for example we will take cases that are very subtle.
We are only taking the cases -- or more over and by the way.
Most people don't know the extent and scope of discrimination because for example we do a lot of confidential settlements.
A lot of media nations well yeah well ever got that right I'll just tell us Gloria well that's what I can't and and then we move on but the companies -- and the point is not only to compensate the -- Jerry.
But also to send a message to these corporations that if you sexually harassed or you discriminate.
Then -- -- going to pay the price for it on your bottom line so -- I would be more cost effective if you would have a workplace.
That where people are treated according -- merits rather than according to their -- Gloria I know that every CFO.
And corporate attorney out they're scared to death of the phone call from -- allies certainly OK well thanks for your help today really appreciate your vantage Jerry.
