The Tampa and Miami Offices of the EEOC filed this action in the District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The Defendant was Gargiulo, Inc., a produce supplier. The controversy involved the alleged sexual harassment of eight different complainants, five of which intervened in the suit. The company was also accused of retaliation after the complainants rejected sexual requests and complained to superiors. The lawsuit was filed in September of 2005 and was eventually resolved by consent decree in January of 2007. The litigation drew interest in the legal community as the Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU, and Florida Legal Services participated in addition to the usual pairing of the EEOC and private counsel. The Defendants were partially successful on a motion to dismiss. The case settled soon after the parties entered into voluntary mediation. The complainants were awarded a total of $180,000, and the Southern Poverty Law Center received $35,000 in attorney fees. In addition, the company was required to post and distribute a Notice of rights, develop an anti-discrimination policy, provide EEO training, and provide a Creole and Spanish language interpreter for employee complainants. The decree was to last for three years.

Tony Verticchio - 06/30/2007


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