CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a longrunning dispute between the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a major Iowa trucking company. The court granted a petition Friday by Cedar Rapids-based CRST Van Expedited, Inc. to review a decision of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

At issue is whether EEOC has to pay the company $4.7 million in legal fees and costs stemming from a major investigation into allegations that female truckers and trainees were routinely sexually harassed. U.S. District Judge Linda Reade awarded fees to the company after faulting EEOC for bringing “groundless” claims without first investigating them.

But the appeals panel ruled that CRST cannot recover fees involving claims that were dismissed without any ruling on their merits. A decision is expected next spring or summer.