Bay Area real estate agent claims Redfin fired her for reporting sexual harassment

A Bay Area real estate agent claims in a new lawsuit that real estate giant Redfin fired her for reporting that a photographer for the company sexually harassed her.

The company has denied liability.

Rebecca Molano alleges that the photographer made sexual advances and sexual comments to her, and touched her shoulder and breast, when they worked together in March. “Molano felt violated and feared for her safety,” the wrongful-termination lawsuit filed Thursday in San Francisco County Superior Court against Seattle-based Redfin claims.

Molano reported the “traumatic sexual harassment” to a local manager and the company’s human resources department, and provided statements for an internal investigation, the suit alleges.

Redfin found that the photographer “engaged in sexually harassing behavior” but “failed to discipline him in any manner,” the suit claims. Company officials told Molano that since the man had already finished the photo job, it was “unlikely” she would have to work with him again, the suit alleges. Molano gave notice to Redfin that she was resigning over the company’s purported failure to “meaningfully respond to her complaints regarding workplace sexual harassment,” and Redfin responded by firing her, the suit alleges.

Redfin denied liability and said it would fight the lawsuit. “Redfin has zero tolerance for sexual assault, harassment and discrimination,” the company said in an emailed statement Wednesday. “We invest heavily to create a safe workplace. Beyond that, we can’t comment on personnel matters, except to confirm that Ms. Molano resigned her position in May.”

Molano, a listing agent, had several open contracts when she was terminated, and received no compensation or referral fees for them, her suit claims. She is seeking compensation and unspecified damages.