Multi-Million Dollar Jury Verdict For EEOC In Sexual Harassment Case Against Custom Companies

A federal court jury this afternoon returned a $2.355 million verdict in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and three saleswomen who experienced sexual harassment and retaliation while employed by The Custom Companies, a Northlake, Ill. trucking company. The verdicts included punitive damages in the amount of $2.05 million and compensatory damages in the amount of $245,000. One woman was awarded, in addition, $60,000 to compensate her for her expenses in defending a retaliatory lawsuit filed against her by Custom Companies.

EEOC had charged that the three female sales representatives were subjected to unwelcome groping, lewd sexual language, sexual propositions, and pornography, and that one was sued by Custom Companies in the Illinois state court because she complained to the EEOC. In addition, EEOC maintained that female sales representatives were expected to entertain Custom Companies customers and potential clients at the "Thee Doll House" and its successor "Crazy Horse Too," so- called "gentleman's" or "strip" clubs on Kingsbury Street in Chicago now known as the "VIPs: A Gentleman's Club." EEOC's evidence at trial indicated that the chief executive of Custom Companies also had an ownership interest in and was the chief executive of "Thee Doll House" and "Crazy Horse Too."

The EEOC's case at trial, supported by photographs, included evidence that strippers in revealing attire were positioned around the course at Custom Companies-sponsored golf outings for customers.

EEOC was represented by Trial Attorneys Richard Mrizek and Deborah Hamilton of the agency's Chicago District Office. Mrizek said, "Custom Companies' principal defense in the case appeared to be as it is in so many sexual harassment cases that nothing ever happened. This afternoon's verdict demonstrates the folly of that defense in the face of credible evidence to the contrary." Read more at eeoc.gov