Dial Loses Bid to End Harassment Suit

A federal judge refused to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit against Dial Corp., clearing the way for a trial within the next few months, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

Dial, maker of its namesake bar soap and Purex laundry detergent, is facing a trial on an EEOC lawsuit filed on behalf of almost 100 current and former employees at the company’s facility in Aurora, Ill. The EEOC said it’s the biggest sexual harassment case brought by the government agency since one against Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Dial tried to have the suit dismissed last year. When that effort failed, the company appealed the decision and again lost, the EEOC said.

Dial spokesman Tom Herrmann said the company had not seen the ruling and could not comment. Shares of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Dial rose 52 cents to $18.50 on the NYSE.