Male-Dominated Silicon Valley Stung By Sexual Harassment Allegations

By Paul Elias

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Silicon Valley venture-capital firm of Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfied & Byers has been generating buzz for decades, spotting early investment opportunities and making billions with companies like Google and Amazon. This summer, the attention is no different, but the reason for it is.

The firm, with a roster of senior partners including Al Gore and Colin Powell, is embroiled in a lawsuit that's the talk of the valley, exchanging nasty accusations with a junior partner who accuses Kleiner of gender bias, sexual harassment and overall boorish behavior toward women.