In a landmark ruling this week, Dallas real estate CEO Robert “Bob” Lovell was ordered to pay $5.7 million after a judge found he repeatedly forced a former employee to perform sex acts to keep her job and health insurance for her daughter.
The Court Decision
The ruling, issued Monday by Dallas County Court at Law Judge Sally Montgomery, is the first to hold an individual Texas business owner or employee personally liable under a law that went into effect in 2021, according to the woman’s attorney, Rogge Dunn.
Statement from the Attorney
“This judgment sends a message: Executives and employees who sexually harass employees and then retaliate when those employees stand up for themselves will face significant consequences,” Dunn said in a statement.
About the Defendant
Lovell, president and owner of Home Marketing Services Inc., is well known in the Dallas area for his television commercials in which he urges people to “stop making your landlord richer and give us a call.” The ads famously carried the tagline “bless your heart.”
Key Takeaways
- Bob Lovell ordered to pay $5.7 million in damages and fees.
- First individual held personally liable under 2021 Texas law.
- Attorney Rogge Dunn highlighted the broader implications for executive conduct.
The case underscores the legal risks for business leaders who engage in sexual harassment and retaliation.
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