ST. LOUIS (AP) – The Steak n Shake Co. has agreed to pay $180,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a woman who said she was groped by a fellow employee and that managers refused to help her. The lawsuit alleged that in summer 2002, Amanda Nichols, then 17, was subjected to unwanted sexual advances by another worker at a St. Louis restaurant.

Nichols said in the July 2004 suit that she was groped by the older co-worker, endured explicit comments and was threatened with sexual assault.

The lawsuit said Nichols quit after the co-worker tried to coerce her into sexual activity in the parking lot of the Steak n Shake in Ballwin, Mo., one of about 400 the chain operates in 19 states.

Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake declined to comment.

In a statement released through the EEOC, Nichols said, “I am very happy with the outcome of the case and am gratified that Steak n Shake will take steps to ensure that no other employee will experience the problems that I did.”

A judge must still approve the settlement. Besides paying Nichols damages and back pay, the chain agreed to conduct sexual harassment training for management personnel; will redistribute its sexual harassment policy to all St. Louis-area employees 18 and younger and their parents; and will post at all restaurants a telephone number for reporting harassment.

Steak n Shake must also perform confidential surveys at selected St. Louis-area stores to ensure that its sexual harassment policy is being followed.

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On the Net:

http://www.eeoc.gov.

AP-ES-06-22-06 1915EDT