BIG VANILLA ATHLETIC CLUB TO PAY $161,000 TO SETTLE EEOC LAWSUIT FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Company Subjected Class of Women to Sexual Harassment and Then Fired Them After They Complained, Agency Charged

BALTIMORE – A Maryland athletic club will pay $161,000 and  furnish other substantial relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by  the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced  today.

According to EEOC’s suit,  (1:08:00518-CCB, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland,  Northern Division), BVP, LLC and N.F.A.C., Inc., doing business as Big Vanilla  Pasadena and Big Vanilla Athletic Club, violated federal law by sexually  harassing several female employees at the company’s Pasadena and Arnold, Md.,  locations. The EEOC said Joella  Hopkins, Melissa Mendez, Michelle Cabral and Dawn Wooden were subjected to  repeated and unwanted sexually offensive remarks and sexual advances. Further, the EEOC charged that Hopkins,  Cabral and Wooden were fired in retaliation for their complaints about the  discrimination.

Such  alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting  to reach a voluntary settlement.

In addition  to the monetary relief to the women, the three-year decree settling the suit  enjoins Big Vanilla Pasadena and Big Vanilla Athletic Club from engaging in  harassment on the basis of sex and from retaliating against employees who  complain about it. The employer agreed  to monitoring by the EEOC, to train its current and future managers on  anti-discrimination laws, and to post notices stating its commitment to  maintaining an environment free of sexual harassment and retaliation.

“Employers  have a responsibility to maintain an environment free of sexual harassment and  retaliation, which are clearly and simply illegal,” said EEOC Acting Regional  Attorney Debra Lawrence. “This  settlement achieves the EEOC’s objectives by providing appropriate relief to  the victims while implementing measures to prevent this kind of misconduct in  the future.”

According  to its web site (www.bigvanilla.com),  “Big Vanilla Athletic Club is the premier fitness facility in Anne Arundel  County, offering you a wide variety of fitness, wellness and recreation  opportunities in the future.”

In  fiscal year 2007, retaliation charges surged 18% to a record high level of  26,663, making retaliation the second-highest charge category (behind race) for  the first time ever. Additionally, sexual harassment filings increased for  the first time since fiscal year 2000, numbering 12,510 – a 4 percent increase  from the prior fiscal year. The  EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the Commission is  available on its web site www.eeoc.gov.