Michigan City Restaurant To Pay $23,000 To Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Suit

Lighthouse Restaurant Allowed Male Manager to Abuse Female Employee, Federal Agency Charged

SOUTH BEND, IND. – A Michigan City, Ind., restaurant will pay $23,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

The EEOC charged in its suit (Case No. 3:10-cv-0407-RL-CAN in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division) that the restaurant owner, Faros, Inc., violated federal law when it allowed the manager of the Lighthouse Restaurant to sexually harass a female hostess for months with sexual innuendo and propositions and subjected her to a hostile work environment.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to monetary settlement, the five-year consent decree settling the suit requires Faros, Inc. to comply with prohibitions against further discrimination, devise and distribute a sexual harassment policy, train its managers and staff, and report to the EEOC, among other things. Another sexual harassment lawsuit (Case No. 3:11-cv-00306-TLS-CAN) remains pending against Dino’s Restaurant, a second Michigan City restaurant owned and operated by Faros, Inc.

“Sexual harassment encompasses more than just offensive touching, and an employee should not have to endure constant verbal sexual propositions and innuendo in the workplace,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Laurie Young. “The EEOC will continue to protect the rights of employees to earn a living free from such unlawful conduct.”

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at: www.eeoc.gov.