SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS TO PAY $625,000 FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, RETALIATION

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the resolution of its class action employment discrimination lawsuit against Specialty Restaurants Corporation, an Anaheim, Calif.-based owner and operator of restaurants and banquet facilities nationwide, including Monterey Hill Banquets in Monterey Park, Calif. Under the EEOC settlement, the company has agreed to pay $625,000 to claimants and will adopt remedial measures to ensure that its employees are not sexually harassed.

In its suit, the EEOC alleged that female workers were subjected to inappropriate touching, indecent and offensive comments, and other forms of sexually harassing conduct by co-workers and supervisors. In addition, at least one female employee was harassed based on her national origin. The federal agency further alleged that Specialty retaliated against both male and female employees who reported the harassment or cooperated with investigations.