Rivers Edge Enterprises to Pay $65,000 in EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

TAMPA, Fla. – Rivers Edge Enterprises, LLC, doing business as River’s Edge Bar and Grill in Gibsonton, Florida, will pay $65,000 to settle a federal sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that one of the restaurant’s owners, who owns the bar with two of his brothers, would engage in sexually charged behavior; ask women about sexual acts; show employees pornographic websites; and tell employees to call him “daddy.” The owner also touched female employees without their consent and texted female employees sexually suggestive messages and images, as well as photographs of guns. The EEOC further asserted that when a female employee complained about the harassment, she was fired in July 2022.

“Company owners have an obligation to implement safeguards in their workplaces that prevent and address harassment,” said Kristen Foslid, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Miami District Office. “Unchecked authority in this case resulted in harm that could have been prevented. This resolution ensures that women at this restaurant can work in an environment free from harassment and abuse of power.”

The conduct alleged in EEOC’s complaint violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Rivers Edge Enterprises, LLC d/b/a River’s Edge Bar and Grill, Case No. 8:24-cv-2090-WFJ-AAS) in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division after first attempting to reach a voluntary pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. 

EEOC Tampa Field Office Director Tamra S. Schweiberger said, “Employers cannot look the other way when sexual harassment is taking place. Employers must take prompt remedial action to address harassment in the workplace and ensure it does not continue. The EEOC is fully committed to combating sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.”

In addition to providing monetary relief to the original complainant and one additional class member, the three-year consent decree settling the case requires River’s Edge Bar and Grill to implement meaningful equitable relief, including the hiring of an outside monitor to provide training and conduct workplace investigations during the decree’s three-year term. In addition, River’s Edge Bar and Grill agreed to revise its sexual harassment policy and complaint procedure, post a notice regarding the lawsuit, and submit biannual reports to the EEOC regarding any complaints of sexual harassment.

For more information on sexual harassment and retaliation, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment and https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.

The Miami District Office’s jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.