In an extreme case of sexual harassment, sometimes it feels like there's nowhere to turn. One woman who was severely harassed by her boss says calling a harassment hotline was no help. Now she's been awarded a $95 million verdict in federal court in St. Louis.

The woman was reportedly 20 years old and working as a customer service representative at Aarons Rents, a rent-to-own business, in 2006. She said the sexual harassment by her boss escalated from name calling and pinching to something much worse.

At first, she claims in the lawsuit, the store's general manager made inappropriate comments and pinched her. That apparently led to groping. By the fall of 2006, she says, he would sneak up behind her and hit her on the head with his genitals.

In October 2006, the man apparently threw her down to the floor, lifted her shirt, held her down and pleasured himself on top of her.

The woman had reportedly called a harassment hotline earlier in 2006, but she says the investigator never called her back. In addition, according to reports, the woman was confronted by the general manager's supervisor in front of him. She says the supervisor warned the manager to "watch his back" because she was beginning to complain about him.

The woman's boss was ultimately arrested, and criminal charges are forthcoming. The jury in her federal case reportedly decided the man assaulted her, and that Aarons Rents failed to properly supervise him.

The woman's verdict consists of $15 million in compensatory damages, plus $80 million in punitive damages. Since that is a very high number, it's possible the punitive damages will be reduced.

According to reports, Aaron's Rents is "disappointed" in the verdict and plans to appeal.

Source: STLToday.com, "Woman awarded $95 million over sex harassment in Fairview Heights store," Robert Patrick, 9 June 2011