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Four female employees sued Anheuser-Busch arising from sexual harassment claims against a male employee (Robinson) occurring over Robinson’s ten-year span of employment. Each time, the employer investigated the claims internally by interviewing the women and Robinson. After the first reported incident Anheuser tried to fire Robinson but was unable to due to union opposition under the collective bargaining agreement. The investigations never resulted in punishment until Robinson was finally terminated in 2003. The District Court granted summary judgment in Hawkins v Anheuser-Busch, holding that none of the women provided sufficient evidence to establish that the alleged harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a hostile work environment and that no reasonable juror could conclude the employer knew or should have known of the male employee's harassment or that the employer failed to take prompt action.

What was this defendant thinking?

The Michigan Supreme Court has re-confirmed "equitable tolling" for delayed applications for leave to appeal in the Court of Appeals in Beavers v Barton Malow (on Remand) (Docket 269007). In that case, the appellant's case had been previously dismissed for failure to timely file appellant's brief and the court reporter certificate. The appellant filed an application for leave to the Supreme Court, which was denied.