Paul’s Big M grocery store in Oswego, NY will pay $1,260,080 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. A class of teenage girls claimed in the lawsuit (2008-CV-01019) that they were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment for more than 10 years. The harassment included egregious acts of verbal and physical sexual conduct by the company’s general manager, Allen Manwaring.
During the trial, multiple women testified that Manwaring made sexual propositions, made lewd gestures and touched and grabbed employee’s private areas. Manwaring testified that he pled guilty in 2008 to one criminal count of harassment in the second degree in satisfaction of four other charges after four women complained to the police. Manwaring was given a 30-day paid suspension following his guilty plea. The harassment continued until Manwaring was fired in 2010 for sexually harassing another young woman. Paul’s Big M grocery failed to take steps to stop the harassment, despite numerous complaints to management and police.
A jury awarded $1,250,000 in punitive damages against the company. It also awarded an additional $10,080 to 10 women to compensate them for emotional pain and suffering.
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