Restaurant worker files sexual harassment suit - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Medford Comic Con planned next Saturday       ...       Oregon primary might actually matter this year, especially for Republican race       ...       Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion       ...       Medford Comic Con planned next Saturday       ...       Oregon primary might actually matter this year, especially for Republican race       ...       Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion       ...           Restaurant worker files sexual harassment suit Complaint accuses Si Casa Flores owners of sexually offensive conduct A former Si Casa Flores employee has filed a $1.25 million sexual harassment suit in U.S. District Court against owners of the local Mexican food chain, alleging verbal and physical sexually offensive conduct. Comment By GREG STILES MailTribune.com By GREG STILES Posted Aug. 18, 2011 at 12:15 AM Updated Aug 18, 2011 at 3:15 AM By GREG STILES Posted Aug. 18, 2011 at 12:15 AM Updated Aug 18, 2011 at 3:15 AM »  RELATED CONTENT • Ex-worker for Si Casa Flores wins $200,000 in lawsuit »  Social News A former Si Casa Flores employee has filed a $1.25 million sexual harassment suit in U.S. District Court against owners of the local Mexican food chain, alleging verbal and physical sexually offensive conduct. Eduardo Lopez, who was a Rogue Community College student when he went to work for the chain in January, named Si Casa Flores owners Juan Flores and Gregorio Rodriguez as well as the business and corporate entities in the complaint filed late Wednesday. During his employment, according to the complaint, Lopez endured uninvited and unwelcomed offensive sexual comments and remarks, touching, molestation and groping. Multiple attempts to reach Flores and Rodriguez, at the respective restaurant locations where employees said they could be found, were unsuccessful. David Ingalls, an attorney with Medford law firm Hornecker, Cowling, Hassen & Heysell, who represented Flores and Rodriguez during recent negotiations with Lopez and his attorney Bob Robertson, did not return a phone message. According to the complaint, Lopez was hired with the intention of making him the manager of the chain's Phoenix restaurant, after completing course work at RCC. There are four Si Casa Flores locations in Jackson County. Instead of being elevated to a management role after finishing his school work, Lopez became the subject of a series of sexual harassment incidents before resigning in June, the court filing said. According to the suit, Lopez was fearful about losing his job, because previous employees had resisted the advances by Juan Flores and had been terminated. "Conversely, employees that engaged in sexual activities with Juan Flores were rewarded with favorable treatment," the suit stated. "It was obvious to (Lopez) that if he had consented and participated in the sexual contact (the defendants) would have rewarded him by keeping their commitment to make him the manager of the Phoenix Si Casa Flores restaurant." Robertson said his client had attempted to negotiate a settlement for two or three weeks. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or email [email protected]. By GREG STILES MailTribune.com By GREG STILES Posted Aug. 18, 2011 at 12:15 AM Updated Aug 18, 2011 at 3:15 AM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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