Burger King Sex Case: Carrols Corp Agrees Settlement of $2.5 Million

A Burger King sex case has settled, with the largest franchisee of the restaurant chain agreeing to pay $2.5 million to avoid litigation.

The sexual harassment case has dragged on for 14 years, however, things have finally concluded with Carrols Corp agreeing to the large pay-out, although the company has made no admission of guilt.

Carrols Corp is based in Syracuse, New York, and operates nearly 600 Burger King franchises in the United States across 13 different states.

The company employs more than 17,000 people, according to various reports.

It had been claimed that as many as 89 women employed by Carrols Corps had suffered harassment. According to a Huffington Post report, the women claimed to have been the victims of a range of indignities including receiving obscene comments, as well as being exposed to unwanted physical contact, and even strip searches and the exposure of genitalia. The most serious accusations even included rape, the Huff Post has reported.

Many of the victims were young women, some in their teenage years.

A number of those alleged to have committed the indecent acts were members of the management of the company, according to The Examiner.

The case has moved slowly, and Carrols Corps has said that it only settled now to avoid even more costly litigation costs. The company still vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has made no admission of guilt.

The company has, however, said that in addition to the $2.5 million settlement payout, it would look to improve "its ability to respond to harassment claims" in the future.