With the support of several women's groups, however, she appealed. In 1986 the Supreme Court ruled in her favor--and in doing so threw open a huge new arena for sexual-harassment claims. In its first ruling ever on sexual harassment, the court held that speech or conduct in itself can create a "hostile environment"--like the one Vinson alleged at Meritor--and that such an environment violates the Civil Rights Act. According to the Justices, unwelcome verbal or physical behavior, if "severe or pervasive" enough, is discriminatory even when there is no quid pro quo.