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Press Release 09-24-2009

NEW BERN MAZDA-SUZUKI SUED FOR SEX HARASSMENT

EEOC Says Male Owner of Car Dealership Sexually Harassed Female Employees

RALEIGH, N.C. – The company  that owns and operates New Bern Mazda-Suzuki in New Bern, N.C.,  violated federal law when one of its owners sexually harassed female employees,  the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit  filed today.

     

According to the EEOC’s suit against New Bern Imports and  Trucks, LLC, Amanda Santos Smith and other similarly situated female employees  who were employed at New Bern Mazda-Suzuki between the summer of 2005 and the  fall of 2008 were subjected to a sexually hostile workplace. The suit alleges that one of the owners of  the company that operates the car dealership subjected the female employees to  un­welcome touching and made repeated comments about their breasts and  buttocks. In addition, the owner, who is  male, propositioned one female employee for sex and asked at least one other  female employee if he could see her naked, the EEOC charges.

     

Sexual harassment violates Title VII of the Civil Rights  Act of 1964. In the lawsuit, the EEOC  seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the affected women, as well as  injunctive and other non-monetary relief.  The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of  North Carolina (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. New Bern  Imports and Trucks, LLC d/b/a New Bern Mazda-Suzuki, Civil  Action No. 4:09-cv-165), after first  attempting to reach a voluntary settlement.

     

“The EEOC takes sexual harassment very seriously,” said  Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Charlotte District,  which includes the agency’s Raleigh Area Office, where the underlying charge of  discrimination was filed. “No one should  have to put up with sexual touching or comments in their place of work. The EEOC is com­mitted to using all available  means, including litigation if necessary, to combat sexual harass­ment in the  workplace.”

     

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment  discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site  at www.eeoc.gov.