News

N.M. Sonic settles $2 million sexual harassment suit

July 7, 2011

A Sonic Drive-In in Los Lunas, N.M., will settle a sexual harassment lawsuit for $2 million.

The unit, owned by Los Lunas Ltd. and B&B Consultants, was investigated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of a group of more than 70 women who charged that a manager and limited partner subjected them to inappropriate comments and physical contact.

According to the BLR Human Resource Network, the subject of their complaints, Robert Gomez, retaliated after the women complained by reducing their hours or forcing them to quit their jobs.

In addition to the financial settlement, the Sonic restaurant is prohibited from further discrimination and requires specific policies be put into place to avoid such an environment.