Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc.

Major Sexual Harassment Case Results in $34 Million Settlement

This case involved widespread sexual harassment at a Mitsubishi car manufacturing plant. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued the company after receiving numerous complaints from female workers who reported being subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The women alleged they faced unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate comments, and discriminatory treatment that made their workplace unbearable.

Rather than go to trial, Mitsubishi agreed to settle the case in 1998 for $34 million – one of the largest sexual harassment settlements at the time. The company also agreed to implement comprehensive changes to prevent future harassment, including new policies, training programs, and oversight measures.

This landmark case matters for workers because it demonstrated that companies can face serious financial consequences for allowing sexual harassment to persist in their workplaces. It showed that the EEOC would pursue major employers when they failed to protect workers from discrimination. The case also established that employers must take active steps to prevent harassment, not just respond after it happens. For workers today, this ruling reinforced that they have the right to work in an environment free from sexual harassment and discrimination.