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EMPLOYMENT

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, ORLANDO

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received an $80,000 settlement for a female bartender who was allegedly sexually harassed at an Italian restaurant in Orlando for over two years before being fired after complaining to the restaurant's owner.

The EEOC claimed the bartender was regularly asked to go on dates, described to restaurant patrons as single and available to date them, subjected to sexual innuendo, and told to dress “sexy” and “date-ready,” among other things.

Under the settlement, the restaurant must conduct mandatory anti-harassment training for all employees and operate a telephone hotline for employees to report incidents of discrimination and harassment.

Case: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Christini's

Case No.: 6:18-cv-01609-CEM-TBS

Plaintiffs attorneys: Robert L. Adler, Kimberly A. Cruz and Robert E. Weisberg, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and Jay P. Lechner and William J. Sheslow, Whittel & Melton, Spring Hill

Defense attorneys: Alison K. Thomas and S. Jonathan Vine, Cole, Scott & Kissane, West Palm Beach