Sexual Harassment Lawyer in Costa Mesa

If you experienced sexual harassment at a Costa Mesa workplace, you have strong protections under California law. We represent employees only, never employers, and offer a free, confidential consultation. 1-800-371-3088.

What Is Sexual Harassment in Costa Mesa

Sexual harassment in Costa Mesa happens in the same places you go every day: luxury retail stores at South Coast Plaza (3333 Bristol Street, opened March 15, 1967, more than 250 boutiques); theaters and rehearsal rooms at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (615 Town Center Drive) and South Coast Repertory (655 Town Center Drive); corporate offices at Vans / VF Corporation (1588 South Coast Drive); classrooms at Orange Coast College and across Newport-Mesa Unified School District; the OC Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Drive); and City of Costa Mesa offices at 77 Fair Drive. The most common Costa Mesa pattern is unwanted touching, comments, or pressure from a supervisor, coworker, patient, or customer, followed by retaliation when the worker reports it.

Costa Mesa Industries Where Sexual Harassment Is Most Common

• South Coast Plaza retail workers - at 3333 Bristol Street - more than 250 boutiques including luxury retailers (Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany & Co.) and many mid-market stores. South Coast Plaza is one of the highest-grossing shopping centers in the United States.
• Arts and creative workers - at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (615 Town Center Drive), South Coast Repertory (655 Town Center Drive), Orange County Museum of Art, and Pacific Symphony.
• Vans / VF Corporation corporate workers - at 1588 South Coast Drive (Vans HQ since 2017, parent VF Corporation).
• Education workers - at Orange Coast College (Coast Community College District) - approximately 23,740 average annual enrollment - and across the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (1,001-5,000 employees per LinkedIn, HQ at 2985 Bear Street).
• Public-sector workers - at the City of Costa Mesa (77 Fair Drive), Costa Mesa Police Department, and OC Fair & Event Center / 32nd District Agricultural Association (88 Fair Drive - a State of California operation).
• Hotel, restaurant, and consumer-products workers - at the Westin South Coast Plaza, Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa (Marriott Autograph), and consumer-products and creative companies along Harbor Boulevard, Newport Boulevard, and Red Hill Avenue. Fast-food workers at chains with 60+ national locations earn the $20/hour AB 1228 floor.

Costa Mesa Local Protections

Costa Mesa has no separate citywide minimum-wage, hotel-worker, fair-workweek, healthcare-worker, or paid-sick-leave ordinance beyond California state law. Costa Mesa is a general-law city (incorporated June 29, 1953); Measure O (November 2014), which would have converted Costa Mesa to a charter city, was rejected by voters. Costa Mesa workers rely on the state-level floor under California Labor Code section 1182.12 ($16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026) plus industry-specific state rules including AB 1228 ($20/hour fast-food) and SB 525 (healthcare-worker tiered schedule).

Sexual harassment in Costa Mesa is governed by FEHA (Cal. Government Code section 12940(j)), which covers any Costa Mesa employer with 1 or more employees for harassment claims, and by federal Title VII (15 or more employees). California also requires sexual-harassment prevention training for all employees of companies with 5 or more workers (Cal. Government Code section 12950.1).

California Law

California gives you broad statewide protection against sexual harassment. For the full statutory framework, deadlines, and how the state laws fit together, see our California employment law page and the in-depth California Sexual Harassment Guide.

What Compensation Can You Recover

California does not cap damages for sexual harassment claims. For a full breakdown of what you can recover, see the California Sexual Harassment Guide.

How to File a Sexual Harassment Claim in Costa Mesa

Civil employment lawsuits filed by Costa Mesa workers are heard at the Orange County Superior Court, Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. For agency contacts, deadlines, and the full filing process, see our California employment law page. We handle the filing process for you, call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.