McDonald’s to pay $505K in lawsuit
Supervisor sexually harassed 4 teenagers in Durango in 2003

April 6, 2008
By Shane Benjamin | Herald Staff Writer

The Durango McDonald's franchise will pay $505,000 to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit brought by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of several teenagers who worked there.

The settlement was approved Thursday by a U.S. District Court judge in Denver.

"We're just happy that it's resolved and there will be appropriate relief for the victims of the harassment," said Loretta Medina, senior trial lawyer with the EEOC.

According to a complaint, four teenagers were subjected to egregious sexual harassment at the Durango McDonald's by their supervisor, Jason Grubb, who was 24 at the time. Efforts to reach Grubb for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

The alleged harassment began in December 2003 and continued for several months. The supervisor allegedly bit the girls' breasts, grabbed their buttocks and made numerous sexual comments, including offering favors in exchange for sex.

Under terms of the settlement, the franchise will pay $450,000 to two of the victims and their lawyer, Lynne Sholler of Durango. An additional $55,000 will be distributed to the two other victims represented by the EEOC.

"I think it's a reasonably fair settlement that avoided having to go to trial," Sholler said in an interview Friday.

The most that the victims could have received at trial would have been $200,000 apiece, she said.

In addition to monetary relief, the franchise must provide sex-discrimination training that will be monitored for three years and post notices of non-discrimination in the workplace.

The defendants were identified as Colorado Hamburger Co., Farmington Hamburger Co., and Jobec Inc., the latter of which does business as McDonald's in Durango.

John Bronson, an owner of the local McDonald's franchise, was required to write letters of apology to the victims.

"I wish to express my sincere regret that you found your experience, while employed at the Durango McDonald's restaurant in 2004, to be objectionable," he wrote.

"It is unfortunate that the former managers of the restaurant did not respond appropriately and promptly to your concerns in accord with our policies."

He added: "The managers have admitted they knew it was their responsibility to protect employees from inappropriate conduct, but they did not. We are sorry for any perception you may have had that the managers blamed you for what happened to you at the restaurant."

In an e-mail to the Herald, John and Celia Bronson said they plan to move forward.

"This matter is now settled," they wrote. "We look forward to continuing to serve this community as we have proudly done for the past 30 years."

Sholler said the girls did not pursue criminal charges against the manager, because they felt they would have been re-victimized in the process.

I don't think you need sex discrimination training to know that it's wrong to bite some teenage girl's hoobajoobs.