Indiana

Chili's Grill & Bar responded promptly and appropriately to an employee's sexual harassment complaints and therefore is not liable even though the worker established a prima facie case of harassment in her lawsuit, the 1st Circuit has ruled.

The appeals court said there was ample evidence that Allison Forrest was subjected to sexual harassment since the actions she alleged occurred because of her sex.

However, because Chili's responded promptly to Forrest's complaints it was entitled to assert an affirmative defense to her allegations, the court said.