Case: United States of America v. Arkansas Department of Corrections

5:00-cv-00395 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Filed Date: Oct. 26, 2000

Closed Date: 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On October 26, 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The D.O.J. sought injunctive relief, specifically requesting that the defendant be enjoined from continuing its discriminatory hiring practices, that the defendant be forced to provide remedial damages, and that the court order defendant to take appropriate non…

On October 26, 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The D.O.J. sought injunctive relief, specifically requesting that the defendant be enjoined from continuing its discriminatory hiring practices, that the defendant be forced to provide remedial damages, and that the court order defendant to take appropriate nondiscriminatory measures to overcome the effects of the discrimination.

The D.O.J. specifically alleged that the defendant discriminated against two employees who were Seventh-Day Adventists on the basis of religion. The D.O.J. claimed that the defendant discriminated by failing or refusing to hire one employee on the basis of her religion and that the defendant discriminated against the second employee by terminating her on the basis of her religion.

On November 1, 2000, the district court (Judge George Howard) accepted a settlement agreement agreed to by both parties. The agreement stated that the defendant did not accept the allegations of the D.O.J., however it agreed to take measures to ensure that no discriminatory practices were continued in the Department of Corrections. The defendant agreed to employ practices that would reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs. The defendant specifically agreed to inform employees who are Seventh Day Adventists that they have the opportunity to swap their shift with another worker in order to observe the Sabbath. In addition, the defendant agreed to pay the employee it terminated $9000 in damages.

This case is closed and we have no further information at this time.

Summary Authors

Janani Iyengar (11/21/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13935279/parties/united-states-v-arkansas-corr-dept/


Judge(s)

Howard, George Jr. (Arkansas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)

Casey, Paula J. (Arkansas)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Freno, Lori (Arkansas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

5:00-cv-00395

Docket (PACER)

Nov. 3, 2000

Nov. 3, 2000

Docket
1

5:00-cv-00395

Complaint

Oct. 26, 2000

Oct. 26, 2000

Complaint
2

5:00-cv-00395

Settlement Agreement

Oct. 26, 2000

Oct. 26, 2000

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13935279/united-states-v-arkansas-corr-dept/

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:19 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT, summons issued and returned to: attorney for service (filing fee waived) (former empl) (Entered: 10/26/2000)

Oct. 26, 2000

Oct. 26, 2000

RECAP
2

JOINT MOTION by parties for entry of settlement agreement (former empl) (Entered: 10/26/2000)

Oct. 26, 2000

Oct. 26, 2000

PACER
3

ORDER (SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT) by Judge George Howard Jr. granting joint motion for entry of settlement agreement [2-1]; defendant to pay the sum of $9,000.00 each to Linda S. Finley and Vickie R. Finley within 30 days of the date of the execution of this Agreement; this Agreement shall terminate 18 months from the date of its entry; each party to bear own costs & expenses, including attorney's fees (cc: all counsel) (former empl) (Entered: 11/01/2000)

Nov. 1, 2000

Nov. 1, 2000

PACER
4

ORDER by Judge George Howard Jr. pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the case is dismissed without prejudice case terminated (cc: all counsel) (former empl) (Entered: 11/03/2000)

Nov. 3, 2000

Nov. 3, 2000

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Arkansas

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 26, 2000

Closing Date: 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Department of Justice suing on behalf of two Seventh Day Adventist employees

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of Arkansas, State

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2000 - 2001

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Accommodation / Leave

Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff

Hiring

Discrimination-basis:

Religion discrimination