Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC

Call Directions Website Contact the practice

Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC Miami Employment Lawyers defending employees against workplace sexual harassment and discrimination. No fee unless we recover.

With decades of experience and over $135 Million recovered throughout this time, call now for a free consultation.

10/16/2026

“Why didn’t they report it sooner?”

A delay in speaking up is not proof that an assault didn’t happen.

In this clip, we discuss Jane Doe’s allegations and a troubling expectation: that survivors must immediately tell someone, use specific words, or react a certain way to be taken seriously.

There is no perfect script for speaking about s*xual assault. The evidence matters. So does questioning our assumptions about how a survivor is “supposed” to respond.

What needs to change to make it safer for survivors to speak up? Share your thoughts below.

Share this video to help challenge the stigma around delayed reporting.

Have questions about s*xual assault, harassment, or your legal options? Contact Derek Smith Law Group.

800-807-2209
dereksmithlaw.com

*xualharassment *xualassaultawareness

The Cornell case: what does the evidence tell us?Mimi and Derek examine the allegations, consent, and the questions surr...
10/16/2026

The Cornell case: what does the evidence tell us?

Mimi and Derek examine the allegations, consent, and the questions surrounding delayed reporting. How should we evaluate the evidence, and what assumptions might shape our understanding?

Watch the full conversation on YouTube at :
https://youtu.be/PO3Ns0YRnmw

What question about the Cornell case would you like Mimi and Derek to address next? Tell us below, and share this discussion with someone following the case.

Derek Smith Law Group
dereksmithlaw.com | 800-807-2209

10/16/2026

THE CORNELL CASE | PART 1

What do the newly reported text messages actually mean for Jane Doe’s case?

In Part 1, Derek Smith Law Group examines the s*xual assault allegations, the evidence being discussed publicly, and the questions surrounding consent and credibility. We also discuss how trauma may affect someone’s response and why the full context matters when evaluating conflicting accounts.

Watch Part 1, then continue with Part 2 for our discussion of Cornell’s response and potential legal liability.

If you or someone you know has experienced s*xual assault or s*xual harassment, contact Derek Smith Law Group to discuss your legal options.

800-807-2209
dereksmithlaw.com

*xualassaultawareness

10/15/2026

Derek Smith and Mimi Nielson break down the Cornell s*xual assault case, including how alcohol and drugs affect a person's legal ability to consent, the text messages that may shape the case, and whether Cornell could face liability under Title IX.

This is just a preview. Watch the full breakdown here: https://youtu.be/PO3Ns0YRnmw

If you or someone you know has experienced s*xual assault at work, at school, or anywhere else, call 800-807-2209 or visit dereksmithlaw.com for a free consultation.

Everything discussed involves allegations only. No one has been criminally charged.

Attorney Advertising. This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

10/15/2026

Fall is for carving pumpkins. We’d rather smash a few workplace problems. 🎃🔨

Harassment, retaliation, discrimination: none of it belongs at work, and you shouldn’t have to put up with it. If you spoke up and got punished, or you’re being treated differently because of who you are, the law may be on your side.

If something at work doesn’t feel right, talk to Derek Smith Law Group.
📞 800-807-2209
🌐 dereksmithlaw.com
https://go.discriminationands*xualharassmentlawyers.com/dslg/N9plyK

Want to see how this ends? Full video coming tomorrow... 🎃 🔨
10/14/2026

Want to see how this ends? Full video coming tomorrow... 🎃 🔨

Six harassment complaints. A warning to stop reporting. A retaliation claim rejected.A former Texas FedEx Office employe...
10/14/2026

Six harassment complaints. A warning to stop reporting. A retaliation claim rejected.

A former Texas FedEx Office employee alleged that a manager tied promotion approval to ending her complaints, telling her: “the HR stuff, that has to stop.”

On October 8, the Fifth Circuit upheld the dismissal of her retaliation claims. The court found that two complaints made before her promotion did not describe conduct reasonably understood as discrimination. Four additional complaints came afterward, so they could not explain the earlier promotion denial.

What does this mean for workers?

Reporting bullying or a “toxic” workplace does not automatically trigger Title VII’s retaliation protections. The conduct and context must reasonably point to unlawful discrimination, such as treatment connected to race, s*x, or another protected characteristic.

You do not need “magic words.” You also do not have to prove that discrimination occurred for your complaint to be protected. A good-faith, reasonable belief can be enough.

Your situation deserves its own review. Other laws may also protect your complaint.

If you believe you faced discrimination or were denied a promotion, disciplined, or fired for speaking up, contact Derek Smith Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation. Let’s review what happened and discuss your legal options.

800-807-2209
https://dereksmithlaw.com

Save this post and share it with someone who needs to know their workplace rights.

10/13/2026

Facing s*xual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation at work? You deserve someone in your corner. At Derek Smith Law Group, we help employees understand their options and fight for their rights.

Your next step starts with a conversation. Contact our employment law attorneys today.

dereksmithlaw.com
800-807-2209

Today, we honor the histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples.Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an o...
10/12/2026

Today, we honor the histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an opportunity to listen to Indigenous voices, celebrate vibrant communities, and reflect on the work still needed to advance equality.

At Derek Smith Law Group, we believe everyone deserves dignity, respect, and fair treatment. We remain committed to standing against workplace discrimination and advocating for those whose rights have been violated.

Thirty-five years ago today, Anita Hill faced 14 U.S. senators, all of them men, and testified on live television that h...
10/11/2026

Thirty-five years ago today, Anita Hill faced 14 U.S. senators, all of them men, and testified on live television that her former boss had s*xually harassed her.

She was 35 years old. For hours, she was questioned, doubted, and picked apart in front of millions. Many people didn’t believe her.

But millions of others heard their own stories in hers. In the years that followed, s*xual harassment complaints to the EEOC surged.

That same fall, the Civil Rights Act of 1991 became law, giving workers in federal discrimination cases the right to a jury trial and the ability to seek damages beyond lost wages.

Then, on October 11, 2019, exactly 28 years after she testified, New York stopped requiring workers to prove that harassment was “severe or pervasive” for it to be unlawful under state law. The focus shifted from “Was it bad enough?” to “Were you treated worse because of who you are?”

Thirty-five years later, the law is stronger. But somewhere right now, someone is deciding whether to report what’s happening to them on the job and wondering what it might cost.

Speaking up still takes courage. No one should have to be brave just to be safe at work.

If that’s you, you may have legal options, and the law generally protects employees from retaliation for reporting harassment. You don’t have to figure out what comes next on your own. Call 800-807-2209 or visit dereksmithlaw.com.

Address

520 Brickell Key Drive Suite O-301
Miami, FL
33131

Telephone

+13059461884

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category