Ex-waitress at Cracker Barrel ends her lawsuit

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000

DADE CITY -- A former Cracker Barrel waitress who sued the restaurant chain earlier this year claiming sexual harassment has dropped her lawsuit.

According to Pasco County court records, Violet L. Merrill, 42, of Brooksville dismissed her suit earlier this month. The Tennessee-based chain responded by demanding Merrill refund the $1,839 it cost for defense attorneys to take her testimony.

Cracker Barrel spokeswoman Julie Davis said the company did not offer any kind of settlement and was vindicated by the suit's dismissal.

"This is a case where the system worked," she said.

Merrill's attorney, Debora Diaz, said she could not comment on the case but said the suit has been dropped and has not been moved to another court, nor is there any intention to revive the suit.

Merrill could not be reached for comment.

When she filed the suit in February, Merrill claimed she was harassed by her manager at the Cracker Barrel near the intersection of State Road 54 and Interstate 75, where she worked from late 1997 until January of 1999.

Cracker Barrel denied any wrongdoing from the start. Davis said the company investigated Merrill's complaint and was cleared by the Equal Opportunity Employement Commission. The company maintains a strict written policy against harassment and requires all employees to read and sign a pledge against inappropriate conduct on the job, she said.

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