A winery owner in California is set to pay $1.49 million to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit. The suit claimed he permitted inappropriate actions by his male boss toward female staff members.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the lawsuit against Wonderful Company and its Paso Robles location, Justin Vineyards, in 2022, detailing that several female employees and customers faced sexual harassment.
The settlement was approved on Thursday by Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani, from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Complaints from the female employees outlined various forms of misconduct from their male supervisors. This included unwanted physical contact, inappropriate comments, and coercive behavior. Some specific incidents involved unwanted sexual touching, inappropriate texts, and suggestive remarks.
One employee mentioned receiving a late-night text asking her about her attire, while another boss allegedly proposed a threesome.
Taylor Markey, an employee, described harassing incidents involving manager James Norton, including being slapped and coerced into uncomfortable situations. She claimed that her difficulties in communication led to further retaliation.
Markey also indicated that nine other coworkers came forward with similar reports of harassment.
The EEOC criticized the company for allowing a culture where female employees were subjected to harassment and failing to address the issues properly.
Beatrice Andre, the acting regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles office, commended the resolution reached, which is claimed to benefit all employees involved.
In a statement, Justin Vineyards expressed their commitment to fostering a positive workplace environment and acknowledged that the issue dates back several years. They claimed to have taken immediate action upon learning of the allegations.
With the settlement in place, the company hopes to move forward and concentrate on its skilled team, as it operates under the umbrella of Wonderful Company, which is based in Los Angeles and owns several other brands including Fiji Water and Wonderful Pistachios.
