Nissan Car Dealership Pays $455,000 To Settle Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit
Tim Dahle Nissan settled a lawsuit for sexual harassment and retaliation by paying $455,000 and other substantial remedial relief. The lawsuit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC)" on behalf of five female employees who allegedly were subjected to unwelcome sexual comments and conduct. According to the lawsuit some of the conduct included many requests for sexual favors and sexually explicit language. According to the women many of the salesmen and sales managers took part in the sexual harassment over a period of several years.
An additional charge in the complaint was that Tim Dahle Nissan engaged in retaliation against one woman by firing her because she complained about the sexual harassment. In Illinois as in other states it is a violation of state law and federal law to fire an employee or take other adverse employment action if the employee complains about sexual harassment. Many times an employer doesn't want to deal with a complaint and finds it easier to fire the employee.
“Sexual harassment is always unacceptable, and it is especially disturbing when the harassers are mistreating a teenager in the workplace, as was the case here,” said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. “The EEOC takes its mission to eradicate this misconduct very seriously.”
In addition to paying $455,000 to the five women, the settlement calls for the dealership to issue formal written apologies to the women and provide training and other relief aimed at educating its employees about sexual harassment, retaliation and the rights of all employees under under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Attorney Peter LaSorsa has an office in downtown Chicago and handles many cases of this type.
