Jointly owned Pasco, Wash., farming operations will pay $470,000 to settle claims that an employee sexually harassed and assaulted female workers, the Washington attorney general said Monday.

Greenridge Farming and Baker Produce, part of the late Frank Tiegs’ farming empire in Eastern Washington, agreed to the settlement in the Superior Court for Benton and Franklin counties.

The company denied any liability for the employee’s actions. The merits of the women’s accusations were not resolved, according to a consent decree signed by the company’s attorney.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson accused Greenridge Farming and Baker Produce of knowing the employee was harassing and assaulting female employees, but did not stop it.

Women who reported the abuse or resisted sexual advances faced having their hours reduced, receiving poor performance reviews or being fired, according to the attorney general.

“He abused his authority over these women for sexual favors. These workers deserved to be heard. All workers should have a safe work environment free from abuse,” Ferguson said in a statement.

Efforts to obtain comment from the company were unsuccessful.

Four women will receive all of the money from the settlement, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The alleged abuse went back to at least 2018 and continued until the accused employee was fired March 1 this year, according to the attorney general.

The attorney general learned about the allegations from the Northwest Justice Project in June 2023. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated allegations of criminal assault. No charges have been filed.