Flower Mound, TX asked in Employment Law, Sexual Harassment and Criminal Law for Texas

Q: sexually assaulted by a franchise owner. Corp investigated & found evidence but I have seen no disciplinary action.

I’m told franchisee must exit the system but i have seen no action. What do I do next? What should I expect? What’s a typical outcome? I’m a corporate employee/the assualter is a restaurant franchise owner. How do I trust anything has been done? I have been waiting months after the official investigation for finality, I still dont have it.

1 Lawyer Answer

A: Sorry to hear about what happened to you. This sounds like a difficult issue for you and your employer to navigate. You should talk to a local attorney about your rights and any remedies that may have available to you. Sexual assault is also a crime that should not be taken lightly. If the franchisor wants to kick the franchisee out, that is completed by terminating the franchise agreement. This can be unilateral or mutual, but can depend on the grounds for termination outlined in the franchise agreement. It can also depend on state law. In a case like this, I'd expect the franchise owner to fight back and it can be a slow process. The franchisor must balance a lot of complex issues. They likely want to keep you safe, protect the brand, etc. Some steps may come immediately, but others can take time. The facts are different in every case, so there is no typical outcome. Speaking with an attorney in your area about your specific facts may help.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.