ALBURQUERQUE, N.M.—A manager of a Dion's Pizza unit was charged in court on Oct. 28 with sexual harassment and wrongful termination of four female employees.
According to New Mexico Business Weekly, the four former employees are seeking lost back pay, attorney's fees and undisclosed damages.
The women allege they were subjected to verbal sexual harassment and derogatory sexual comments from manager Mike Johnson. The complaint states that the harassment was "intimidating, insulting and abusive ... ." The plaintiffs claim that when they rejected Johnson's sexual advances, he would become irritated and make offensive comments concerning their national origin.
Court documents also say the employees were not allowed to take their grievances to the company's human resources manager because they do not speak English.
The former employees filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and received a "right to sue" letter on July 1.
According to the report, Dion's Pizza denies the allegations and will ask a judge to dismiss the case.
"I expect this case to turn out favorably for the defendants in this case," said attorney Whitney Warner, who is representing Dion's.
Dion's Pizza operates nine restaurants in the Albuquerque area.
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