The owner of Justin Vineyards & Winery has agreed to pay $1.49 million to settle a federal sexual-harassment lawsuit tied to its Paso Robles estate, ending a yearslong legal fight over how women were treated on the property. The allegations, dating back to at least 2017, described a pattern of unwelcome touching, forcible kissing, lewd comments and retaliation that investigators say was serious enough to drive some workers to quit. The settlement closes a major enforcement case and once again puts the spotlight on workplace culture at one of the Central Coast's most high-profile wineries.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accused male managers in Justin's production and restaurant operations of repeatedly subjecting female employees and customers to sexual advances, offensive conduct and unwelcome physical contact. The complaint (EEOC v. Justin Vineyards & Winery LLC, Case No. 2:22-cv-06039) also alleges that some workers who spoke up were punished with extra shifts, yelling and other adverse treatment.
Settlement and company response
Under the settlement, The Wonderful Company will pay $1.49 million and adopt policy and reporting changes that federal officials described as meaningful steps toward preventing discrimination, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. A Justin spokesperson told the Chronicle that the company takes nothing more seriously than maintaining the most respectful and positive work culture for every one of our colleaguesmission-muni-midday-stabbing-sends-woman-to-hospital and said it looks forward to moving beyond the case.
Controversies around the estate
The settlement lands on a property that was already a local lightning rod. Stewart and Lynda Resnick, who bought Justin in 2010, drew heavy criticism in 2016 after oak trees were cleared to build a reservoir, prompting apologies and a pledge to plant replacement oaks, according to reporting by SFGATE. The estate also houses The Restaurant at JUSTIN, a Michelin-starred destination that has helped boost the winery's national profile, according to the winery's site.
What employees alleged
In its complaint, the EEOC detailed accusations that supervisors engaged in sexual touching of employees' buttocks, waist and breasts, rubbing of genitals, forcible kissing, snapping of bra straps, nibbling on ears, biting shoulders, exposing private body parts and sending inappropriate photos, among other incidents. The agency said that some employees who reported the conduct then faced retaliation, and in several cases, the pressure and treatment that followed led them to resign.
Legal and local stakes
The resolution highlights the EEOC's ongoing push to confront abusive workplace cultures in hospitality and agricultural sectors and shows how the agency can secure monetary relief along with policy changes without going to trial. The company says it has strengthened its policies and will keep reviewing its workplace practices, while the settlement requires monitoring, reporting and training aimed at preventing similar problems in the future, the Chronicle reported.
