A Paso Robles winery is slated to pay millions to settle an equal employment lawsuit that alleged “recurring, frequent and offensive” sexual harassment against female employees.

According to a Friday news release, the Paso Robles-based Justin Vineyards and Winery — alongside The Wonderful Company, a Los Angeles-based food and beverage company that represents Justin — will pay $1.49 million to settle a 2022 federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The lawsuit alleged that female employees had been subject to sexual harassment, including forcible kissing, biting and nonconsensual touching of their buttocks and breasts, by male managers, coworkers and customers, on a daily basis since at least 2017.

“The alleged harassment included recurring, frequent and offensive sex-based remarks, advances and unwelcome touching,” Friday’s release said.

According to the lawsuit, the companies also did not properly handle complaints made by the victims, “leaving employees vulnerable to ongoing harassment,” the release said.

Employees who complained were also subject to retaliation or forced out of their jobs, the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit claimed that employees who complained about the sexual harassment would be retaliated against by being assigned extra or double shifts, having their customer allergy requests disregarded, being accused of wrongdoing, and being investigated, The Tribune previously reported.

Supervisors would also “yell, verbally berate (reporting employees), laugh at them and slam doors,” the lawsuit alleged.

The unlawful employment practices were “intentional” and “done with malice or with reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of aggrieved employees,” the lawsuit said.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the behaviors alleged amounted to a violation of the Civil Rights Act, leading the agency to file the suit.

Justin and The Wonderful Company previously disputed the allegations brought forward in the lawsuit.

Justin and its parent company later filed a motion to dismiss the sexual harassment case, arguing that the allegations detailed in the lawsuit weren’t specific enough and needed to specify the date and time of the incidents, in addition to the location and identity of the accusers — but a judge denied that motion in 2023.

Now, the companies will pay a large chunk to settle the case.

“We commend Justin Vineyards & Winery LLC and The Wonderful Company LLC for reaching a resolution of this matter that will benefit all employees,” said Beatriz Andre, acting regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, in the release. “The policy changes and reporting to which the companies agreed are important steps in ensuring a workplace free of discrimination.”

Christine Park-Gonzalez, director of the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, said in the release that sexual harassment in the food service industry is “a widespread problem the EEOC seeks to address.”

“We commend employees for speaking up about mistreatment in the workplace,” Park-Gonzalez added.

In a written statement to The Tribune, a spokesperson from Justin Vineyards and Winery said the company looks forward to moving past the years-old allegations.

The company has also gotten new leadership in recent years, with the appointment of Steve Myers as president of wine businesses, and Alysha Lee as vice president of hospitality for its wine portfolio.

“We take nothing more seriously than maintaining the most respectful and positive work culture for every one of our colleagues, and we’re proud that our policies and standards foster that,” the spokesperson said. “This matter dates back many years and was dealt with immediately and decisively the moment we became aware of any allegations of conduct that did not align with what is appropriate in the workplace.

“With this agreement reached, we look forward to putting this chapter fully behind us and continuing to focus on the incredibly talented team we have in place today.”