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Sexual Harassment Case Settled With Sonic Drive-In Restaurant

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A former female employee of a Sonic Drive-In Restaurant in Grapevine claims that she was sexually harassed by her manager while working on the job at the age of 17 years of age. Erin Schwarzbach, now 21, was able to reach a settlement with Sonic restaurant last week. The company agreed to pay $31,000 to the young woman.

Yet the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the company still denies any wrongdoing or mistreatment of Erin Schwarzbach, and does not admit any liability. An attorney representing Sonic said that the reason for the settlement was to purely avoid litigation expenses.

Erin Schwarzbach's lawsuit was filed on her behalf by Texas employment lawyers with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The suit alleged that the former Sonic employee was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment, and that the company did not properly investigate a harassment complaint that was filed against Shawn Sadler, the general manager of Sonic's Grapevine location. The complaint stated that the manager had repetedly asked Erin Schwarzbach for oral sex.

There are over 3,000 Sonic Drive-In locations in 44 U.S states. Hundreds of Sonic locations exist all over the state of Texas, including dozens in the Houston area.

FindLaw states that sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature are considered to be common examples of sexual harassment.

For more information about sexual harassment in the workplace, visit our Related Resources links.

Related Resources:

  • Sexual Harassment: Actions You Can Take (FindLaw)
  • How to Spot Sexual Harassment: 6 Facts (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life Blog)
  • See a Houston Employment Lawyer (FindLaw)

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