OK first off I will 100% admit that I am not an expert in this area and hence could be wrong (going back to the previously agreed upon advice that &quot;Lawyer up&quot; is clearly the right thing to do).<p>That having been said, I have received training, by a lawyer, about how to manage situations in which a sexual harassment claim has been made. In that training I was told that the accused employee has a right to hear and respond to the claims. Further if you punish them before giving them that chance you could be opening the company up to liability. Especially if you specifically fire them for harassment.