EEOC v. Justin Vineyards & Winery LLC, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-06039

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that Justin Vineyards & Winery LLC and The Wonderful Company LLC (together “Companies”) resolved a sexual harassment lawsuit involving female employees by agreeing to pay more than $1 million. 

According to the EEOC complaint, beginning in August 2017, female employees were subjected to repeated sexual harassment by supervisors, coworkers and customers at the Companies’ facility in Paso Robles, California. The misconduct included offensive sexual comments, unwanted advances, and inappropriate physical touching, which violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

In addition, the EEOC alleged that the Companies failed to respond to employee complaints and that employees who did report the misconduct faced retaliation, along with some having to resign from their positions because of the increasingly hostile environment. 

In the settlement, the Companies not only agreed to pay $1.49 million, but also to implement workplace reforms, including enhanced anti-harassment policies, improved reporting procedures, and additional compliance measures designed to prevent future misconduct. 

As this recent EEOC settlement shows, sexual harassment remains as a significant concern in many industries, including the restaurant and food services. An employer’s failure to promptly investigate harassment complaints can result in major lawsuits, financial penalties and damage to the workplace culture and reputation.

Horizon Employment Law’s team conducts workplace investigations involving such claims, adeptly navigating sensitive issues with discretion and professionalism.  In our investigations, we often see the fallout when employers fail to promptly investigate harassment complaints or put the appropriate compliance measures in place to prevent harassment. Horizon Employment Law investigations give employers the information they need to take action when it’s needed, and give employees an opportunity to be heard.