From there, they said, Perlera grew bolder: coming up behind them and rubbing their shoulders while they sat at their desks and pressing his body against theirs when they got up to move around the office. “It was very much like wanting to take any opportunity that he could to, I feel like, put his hands on me,” Khademakbari said.

Maha Chishtey, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, went to Agwan directly to notify him of the harassment in early October, the lawsuit states. On October 4, Chishtey received a text from Agwan: “Took care of it,” he said. “Keep me posted if anything happens. It won’t and shouldn’t.” By mid-October, senior staff were aware of Perlera’s behavior toward women employees and had spoken with Inkiow and Agwan about disciplinary actions. Before she resigned, Chishtey and Khademakbari held a private meeting with Agwan about Perlera’s behavior. “He was cursing a lot,” Khademakbari said, “asking why this was happening to him again.”

However, according to the lawsuit, on October 17, after a long workday, Agwan called Chishtey to return to the office. When she arrived, she realized she and Agwan were the only two there. Agwan began “showering her with compliments,” the lawsuit says, engaging her in a long conversation. “After plying Ms. Chishtey with compliments, Agwan put his hands on her and moved closer to kiss her.” Chishtey immediately rejected his advances and tried to leave, but he blocked her exit, attempting to convince her to “succumb to his sexual advances.” When it was clear she wouldn’t, he let her leave.