According to a lawsuit, Benson Enterprises, the operator of multiple dealerships including Ingram Park Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, violated federal law by subjecting two female employees to sex-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) made the charges in a lawsuit filed in federal court last week.

The EEOC’s lawsuit claimed a male manager for Ingram Park Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram created and maintained a hostile work environment by subjecting a female fleet service advisor to pervasive and unwanted sexist comments degrading to women. The manager also directed clients away from the fleet service advisor and excluded her from important communications regarding business operations – resulting in a loss of sales and negatively affecting her commission-based compensation.

Additionally, the suit claims the manager excluded the fleet service advisor and another female employee from a group chat he organized with male service advisors, where he exclusively announced competitions for monetary bonuses. As a result, both women were denied opportunities to compete and receive bonuses. After the fleet services advisor reported the discriminatory treatment to multiple managers and the human resources department, the dealership fired her.

The EEOC filed suit in Civil Action No. 5:24-cv-01072, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, after attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. In this case, the EEOC seeks compensatory damages and punitive damages for the two female service advisors, as well as back pay, and reinstatement or front pay for the fleet service advisor who was fired in retaliation for complaining.