STORY 3

I was asked to sign an NDA twice in my life.

Once, after a formal complaint to my HR department’s officials (I worked for large media company), about sexual harassment by my boss. I even placed a Human Rights complaint, but was told that would take many years to go through the overburdened system. I could not afford the on-going legal fees to defend my case ($250 per hour in 1988), so I finally felt pressured to give up my case.

A very small settlement was offered to me by the company lawyers with an NDA at the end of the documents. I had already had to leave my job prior to this because of the stress and being ostracized by other managers and employees who knew of my complaint, and felt there was no other option for me, other than financial ruin if I continued with a lawyer.

The NDA was sprung on me with a take this or nothing ultimatum.

The second time was after a new home construction defects dispute with the home builder for mis-used equipment and faulty heating and improper wood support beams used in construction leading to sagging and mould. The construction defects were never fixed. I was a self-represented litigant at Small Claims Court and the License Appeal Tribunal for a total of about 3 years.

Finally I was offered a very small settlement “take this or you get nothing”, just to end the stress. I had to sign an extensive NDA, protecting the builder and the government warranty organization.