Confidential
Settlement – $1,050,000Court
Case Not Filed
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Anna Y. Park
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Sue J. Noh
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Defendant
Facts
Plaintiffs are a class of about 50 Latino farmworkers, mostly female, who worked for Rivera Vineyards. Rivera Vineyards is a Coachella Valley-based grower and packer of table grapes and one of the largest companies of its type in Southern California. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought suit against Rivera on the farmworkers' behalf.
Damages
Plaintiffs claimed they suffered emotional pain and suffering, humiliation, and inconvenience from the harassment and assaults. They also claimed lost wages when they were terminated or not hired back for complaining.
Result
According to defense counsel, Rivera Vineyards settled the case for business and practical reasons. The consent decree contains no admission of wrongdoing. It includes a monetary payment of $1.05 million to be divided among the class members, payable over eight years. The consent decree further includes reinstatement of the workers who were wrongfully terminated, the hiring of an outside consultant to handle harassment complaints, the implementation of anti-discrimination policies, the training of managers and employees, and the creation of hiring goals to have women move into positions typically filled by men at Rivera Vineyards (and women in neighboring vineyards).
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